Andrew K. Frank, Before the Pioneers: Indians, Settlers, Slaves, and the Founding of Miami (University Press of Florida, 2017.
Overview.
“Before the Pioneers “by Andrew Frank talks about how the many groups inhabited the North Bank in the years following the Miami River formation. He starts by describing Florida’s geologic structure and the movement of people to the Florida peninsula 14,000 years ago. Throughout the book, Frank describes how Bahamian mariners and shipwrecked sailors, Tequestas and Seminoles, Spanish missionaries, American plantation owners, deserters, and fugitive slaves shaped the north bank surroundings to fit their desires. He also touches on the landscape alteration, structures, and physical tools that were left behind by the northern bank settlers.
Introduction: Miami’s Lost History.
In the introduction section, Frank briefly talks about what he will be discussing in each chapter of the book. He explores Miamians’ lack of historical awareness and explores how nonhuman forces have helped shape Miami’s human history. Frank states that one of the factors that has contributed to lack of historical consciousness in Miami was demographical forces. He further explains that air conditioning, migration and immigration, everglade drainage, dredging, and urban sprawl have made the once known little town into an international city.
Chapter 1: Before the North Bank.
This section explores some of the factors that shaped the North Bank. According to Frank, the Miami River, Biscayne Bay, the Everglades, and Lake Okeechobee played a significant role in the geological and ecological development of North Bank. He further states that Miami and the North Bank emerged mainly from the waters rather than from the ashes. Frank concludes by stating that the North Bank’s history began when the Miami River was formed, and the Native people began traversing using the new travel path.
Chapter 2: The founders.
This chapter explores the Tequesta Indians’ history since their arrival 4000 years ago until the Spanish arrived in 1513. The Tequesta ancestors contributed to climate change because they hunted animals and fished sea creatures to the extent of exhausting the local inhabitants. In this section, Frank compares Spanish and British effort to colonize South Florida. He states that the British’s main focus was on north Florida and never played a role in overseeing South Florida’s development.
Chapter 3: Spanish colonialism and the Doctrine of Discovery.
Frank’s main focus is on Tequestas and what they went through under Spanish colonization in chapter three. He starts that for roughly two centuries, the North Bank was part of the greater Caribbean. Frank continues to explain how the North Bank was under the Spanish empire for two eras. In this chapter, the author explains that the North Bank history began when Juan Ponce de Leon arrived with the creation of Spanish missions, a sequence of slave raids, and the influence of various mariners from the area.