History of the Philippine Islands

Manila's growth, changing governors and expanding trade shape Antonio de Morga's account of the Philippine Islands under Spanish rule. A royal official who took part in public affairs, Morga describes the development of colonial government alongside relations with China and Japan. The history surveys settlements, religious missions, taxes and expeditions, showing how decisions about distant ventures affected administration within the islands.

Translated and annotated by E. H. Blair and J. A. Robertson, this edition also includes appendices on Thomas Candish and early Dutch activity in the East Indies. The sea brings both commerce and conflict: the account traces trading voyages and the encounter between Spanish and Dutch vessels near Manila in 1600. For readers studying the region's history, the book offers an official participant's perspective on government and seafaring, with editorial notes that place his account beside other historical sources.