This historical survey narrates the major events and trends that have shaped the history of Puerto Rico, from its discovery by the Spanish in 1493 to its annexation by the United States in 1898. It explores the influence of colonialism, trade, and culture on the island's development, as well as the struggles and aspirations of its people.This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it.This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.