This volume examines the symbolic systems that governed Americas integration into the Europeanweltanschauung, including Amerindian myths and religious beliefs, and concepts of Christian belief, as introduced and taught by the Europeans. This collection of essays presents a detailed examination of political, legal, theological, and historiographic problems associated with this process.

Wulf Oesterreicher, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich;Roland Schmidt-Riese, Katholische Universität Eichstätt-Ingolstadt, Germany.