Andrés Cavo facts for kids

Andrés Cavo (born in Guadalajara in 1739 – died in Rome in 1803) was a Jesuit priest and an important historian. He wrote about New Spain, which is what Mexico was called when it was ruled by Spain.

His most famous book, Historia de México (History of Mexico), was written while he was living far from home in Rome. It was one of the first books to tell the whole story of Mexico during the time Spain ruled it. This book helped many historians who came after him.

Life and Work

Early Life and Priesthood

Andrés Cavo was born in 1739 in Guadalajara, a busy city in New Spain. He went to a school run by the Jesuits, who are members of a Catholic religious group called the Society of Jesus. In 1758, he joined the Jesuits himself, and by 1760, he became a priest.

He worked in missions, helping local people in a place called Nayarit. But in 1767, something big happened: the King of Spain ordered all Jesuits to leave Spanish lands. This was called the expulsion of the Jesuits. Andrés Cavo had to leave New Spain. He sailed to Spain first, then moved to Italy. He lived there for the rest of his life and could never return to his home country.

His Famous Book

When Andrés Cavo passed away in 1803, he left behind a handwritten book. It was called Historia civil y política de México (Civil and Political History of Mexico). He wrote it in both Latin and Spanish.

Years later, a historian named Carlos María de Bustamante found Cavo's book. Bustamante thought it was very important, so he published it. He also added a lot of his own writings to it. The new, longer book was called Los tres siglos de México bajo el gobierno español hasta la entrada del Ejécito Trigarante (Three Centuries of Mexico Under the Spanish Government).

The first part of this book was Cavo's original history, covering the time from the Spanish conquest of Mexico (1521) up to 1766. This was just before the Jesuits were expelled. Bustamante then added more parts, continuing the story until 1821, which is when Mexico became independent from Spain.

What Made His Work Special?

Andrés Cavo's book wasn't just a list of events. It was more like a detailed diary of Mexico City. He focused on how political ideas grew in the country. His book also shared many interesting details about daily life in colonial Mexico that you can't find anywhere else.

Cavo showed a strong sense of Mexican identity, not just Spanish colonial loyalty. Because of this, many people see him as someone who helped prepare the way for Mexico's independence. His writings helped people think about Mexico as its own nation.

See also

In Spanish: Andrés Cavo para niños