The Spaniards were to seek the world of the Navajos. Within a few years after the arrival, Spanish colonists in 1598 had the Navajos obtained sheep, cattle and horses from pueblo Indians who escaped from the Spaniards, taking the cattle, horses and sheep they were tending with them, and sought refuge among the Navajos.
The first impression the early Navajo tribes had of the Spaniards was that they were Gods. That they had the powerful strength and knowledge like no others. Their impression changed dramatically when the Spaniards settled on their best farm lands and left their families homeless, and used Indians as slaves and servants. Those who served as slaves learned many of the Spanish ways.
They learned how to build adobe homes using molds . They learned to grind wheat to make bread, as well as how to ride horses and care for domestic animals. At the same time the Spaniards learned from the Indians. They were introduced to foods made from corn and corn meal.
This went on for many years and the Indians grew weary. They resented the Spanish invaders. They wanted them out of their territory. They no longer wanted any part of them. So in 1680, all the Indian tribes acted together to drive the Spaniards out; and this they did.
After 1700 the Spanish found the Navajo to be an ever growing scourge because of their raids and alliances. The tribe managed to be at peace with some tribes, while it fought and raided others. They feared only the Utes, who had learned war in the Plains area. Once the Plains tribes acquired the horse, they developed Indian warfare into an art. The annual efforts of the Spanish to break up alliances and outwit the Navajo are reported in these efforts were fruitlessly continued. Around 1846, the United States relieved the Spanish of the Southwest and their Navajo problem.
By the end of the 1700’s the Navajos had drifted farther west into the Canyon de Chelly area. New settlements were established. And a new way of life for the Navajos began.
My Sources : https://www.crowcanyon.org/EducationProducts/peoples_mesa_verde/post_pueblo_navajo.asp http://utahindians.org/archives/navajo/history.html
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