Essay On Mission San Luis De Talimali

Mission San Luis de Talimali

Before and Start of Mission
Mission San Luis de Talimali was unique and one of the most important missions in the seventeenth century Florida by serving as a center for nearby missions and Spanish military stronghold. It was built in 1633 in the Florida Panhandle. The legislative leader of Florida around then was Luis Horrouytiner and the new mission may have been dedicated San Luis in his honor.(McEwan) It’s population were predominantly Apalachee Indians who were descendants of those people whose village Hernando de Soto invaded during the winter of 1539-1540. The Apalachees were the most culturally advanced of Florida’s native people. The purpose of the Mission San Luis de Talimali, as many others, was the

Christianity in the Mission meant a lot of changes in the lives of the Apalachee. “From marriage to funeral practices, holidays to education, the church influenced nearly every aspect of daily life. In order for both parties to coexist, they both had to alter some of their customs and traditions.’’ (Mission San Luis De Apalachee). Spaniards would marry Apalachee women whom will continue her traditions and customs at her new household. The Apalachee women viewed the marriage as a step up in the community for her and her

Everybody in the Mission had to attend Church events like evening prayers, Sunday mass, and other. One important event in the lives of the Apalachee was a ball game. It was a very important tradition for them because the game was played for the ‘God of rain and thunder to ensure rain for the crops.” (Mission San Luis De Apalachee) Before the game there was a ritual of purification at the council house. The chief couldn’t eat food during the whole day. He could only smoke tobacco and drink Cassina to the point of sickness. Cassina was made out of the leaves of yaupon holly and is packed with caffeine. This drink is also known as Black Drink and could only be served at the council house with exception from permission from the chief.
At the top of the hill lived the leaders of the village. The rest of the Apalachee lived and worked in areas surrounding their fields. They only came to the center of the mission when there was a special event.
The Spanish trained the Apalachee on how to use firearms. This was an advantage for the Spaniards on times of raids as the natives outnumbered them.
By 1690 a visitor to the mission describe it as looking as a one of Spain’s