Comanche Commerce

Comanche Commerce

Group #1 Mitchell, Danny, Blake, Kilie, and Phil

As reported earlier in class, Comanches based their commerce around horses. They would raid other communities in the south west region of their territory stealing horses and salves and in return sell/trade the horses/slaves to other communities where the horse population was small and flourished on this system. The following quote exemplifies the importance of horses in their "empire".

Page 85- “The stealing and selling of horses was central to this dynamic of simultaneous exchange and exploitation.”

Page 39- "In exchange for captives, Taosenos supplied Comanches with crucial necessities for their newly conceived plains life- carbohydrates, horse, metal tools, and guns. ?Comanches responded by quelling their raids everywhere in New Mexico, giving the colony a much needed respite from violence."

The Comanches would often trade/sell these horses during fairs. At these fairs Comanches would often peacefully trade with other native communities/groups for essentials that were needed to make their nomadic life styles easier. The next quote shows the detail of various goods traded during a fair.

Page 127- “In addition to bulk provisions, Comanches obtained from the fairs a wide variety of luxuries and manufactured goods- raw sugar, cigarettes, scissors, soap, mirrors, saddlebags, hatchets, war axes, lances, knives, scarlet cloth, serapes, woolens, cloaks, indigo, and vermilion”

Comanches didn't only trade with other native allies but also European allies as well. Trade was important for the Comanche survival and other placed trade first of Comanche agenda. Comanches would become partners with anyone as long as they were getting what they wanted. European technology often caught the eye of Comanche leaders. It began with Spanish goods but quickly evolved into a main source of trading with Americans, British, and French. The subsequent quote shows the willingness and openness of Comanche leaders to trade for the goods needed to grow economically and for overall wealth.

Page 148- “The practical matter of trade, however, was foremost in the Comanche agenda, and the chief promptly moved to explain how Comanches’ desire for European technology created ready markets for American goods: “ we are in want of Merchandize and Shall be Always glad to trade with you on friendly terms… You have everything we want.””

Our group feels that this thesis describes Comanche goals and the process used to create what is arguably known as "The Comanche Empire".

The Comanche created a successful commercial empire relying heavily on diplomacy and strategic violence’s, and through these mechanisms, the Comanches’ forced their enemies to maintain trading fairs for their economic survival and overall material wealth.