Glass Beads & Conversion at Mission San Diego de Alcalá

Why Glass Beads?

• Relationship Building – Valued ornaments opened friendly contact with the Kumeyaay.
• Conversion Incentives – Offered as rewards for embracing Christianity.
• Trust & Reciprocity – Symbolized goodwill, fostering cooperation.
• Cultural Exchange – Blended Kumeyaay beadwork traditions with European designs.
• Economic Role – Beads entered indigenous trade networks, expanding social ties.

The bead trade was a deliberate missionary strategy to establish presence, spread faith, and integrate with local economies.