Reviews (85)

Non fiction that reads like fiction.
I love history stories that read like fiction. I learned a lot in the book and in addition enjoyed the the story.

Like A Renaissance "Star Trek"
This book is fascinating.
well worth the trouble
Portuguese Ferdinand Magellan departed the known world in 1519 to find a new route to the lucrative spice islands for Spain. One of his five ships returned to Spain three years later: the first to circumnavigate the globe.
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Subjects:  1. 16th century    2. Adventurers & Explorers    3. Biography    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. Civilization    6. Explorers    7. Historical - General    8. History    9. History: World    10. Maritime History    11. Portugal    12. Special Interest - Adventure    13. Voyages around the world    14. World - General    15. History / World   

Reviews (3)

Good stuff
This collection of primary sources concerning the history of Medieval Iberia is quite good for undergraduate study of Muslim Spain, with useful introductions to each source.The predominance of Christian sources may be explained by the fact that many Muslim sources are no longer extant(or did not exist in the first place), particularly concerning the Mozarabic population(Christians under Arab-Berber dominion).

The best anthology of primary sources available
This is the most thorough and up-to-date collection of primary sources relating to the history of medieval Spain yet available.It brings together a vast ocean of important and illustrative Jewish, Christian andMuslim sources, many of which have never before been translated. Readers,especially historians, will find much of value in this carefully-selectedand thoughtfully arranged anthology.Few other collections give such asense of the richness and diversity of medieval Iberian society.

Peculiar, but an adequate introduction to Christian sources
This book actually focuses largely (almost entirely) on Christian sources for medieval Spain (hardly "Iberia," since with one exception Portugal, for instance, is not mentioned).Muslim sources are few and the obvious ones, and the rare and altogether inadequate Jewish sources are thrown in as an afterthought.Still, a useful undergraduate textbook, perhaps. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 711-1516    2. Civilization    3. Civilization, Medieval    4. Europe - Spain & Portugal    5. History - General History    6. History: World    7. Portugal    8. Sources    9. Spain    10. To 1500    11. Christianity    12. European history: c 500 to c 1500    13. Islamic studies    14. Jewish studies   

Subjects:  1. Art & Art Instruction    2. Ceramic Arts And Crafts    3. Crafts & Hobbies    4. History - European    5. Hobbies/Crafts    6. Missouri    7. Monuments    8. Pottery & Ceramics    9. Public sculpture, American    10. Saint Louis    11. Statues    12. Arts & crafts design    13. Ceramics    14. Influence    15. Palissy, Bernard    16. Portugal   

Reviews (4)

An excellent overview of Spanish culture, art and history
I used Cantarino's "Civilizaci�n y cultura de Espa�a" for some of my classes in Burgos, Spain, and found it to be an excellent supplement to the material that we were studying in class (from prehistory and Atapuerca to post-Franco democratic Spain). Each chapter covers a specific period in Spanish history, along with notes on art, architecture, music, literature for each time period. I found the level of Spanish to be very easy, although it might prove a bit challenging to second or third year Spanish students. The look of the book is a bit outdated (colour photos would have been nice for the art photos!), and the "history" ends at 1996 or so. Overall, a worthy investment, complete with maps, a timeline, a glossary, and plenty of useful, compact information about the most important events and people in Spain throughout the ages.

Convoluted and confusing
I bought this book because it was required reading for a class.The text is written in such a way as to be unclear and and very unweildy for third year Spanish students.The vocabulary was very advanced and I found it more helpful to read about the history of Spain on the internet or in the encyclopedia for an overview before thinking about attempting this book.This is not a book that I would strongly recommend to an intermediate student.

confusing
I have been reading this book and think the format is awful. He skips around time periods and has details of one thing and then nothing on another. There is no visual aid for where the people came from and occupiedSpain. There also is no outline or good intro for the book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Europe - Spain & Portugal    2. History    3. History - General History    4. History: World    5. Spain And Portugal - History    6. Spanish    7. European history (ie other than Britain & Ireland)    8. Foreign Language Study / Spanish    9. Portugal    10. Spain   

Subjects:  1. Portugal    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Development - Economic Development    4. Europe - Spain & Portugal    5. Business & Economics / Economics / General    6. Economic history    7. Europe    8. Political economy    9. Business/Economics    10. 1974-    11. Economic conditions   

Reviews (13)

Covers the people, culture, economics, politics, and history
Students and travelers requiring an introduction to the people, culture, economics, politics, and history of Portugal will benefit substantially from reading A Concise History Of Portugal by David Birmingham (Emeritus Professor of Modern history, University of Kent at Canterbury). Now in its second edition, A Concise History Of Portugal is a modern account and the first to be written in English since the termination of dictatorship. No international history series can be considered complete without the inclusion of this Cambridge University Press edition of David Birmingham's A Concise History Of Portugal.

A distorted picture of the country and its history
In my view, this history of Portugal gives a distorted image of the country. It stresses the country's problems and plays down its achievements. The book pictures Portugal as a country struggling to establish a place on the world scene; modernise its economy and society; and secure political stability (!). In contrast, one can not find much on Portugal's gold age of the voyages of discovery and a worldwide maritime empire in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. In fact there is not much on the first centuries of Portugal as a country. The whole book is rather biased, giving a one-sided and not particularly flattering picture of Portugal. I much prefer the more objective and well-balanced approach of 'Portugal: A Companion History, by Jose Hermano Saraiva et al.

Pretty good. Could be better.
David Birmingham does a pretty good job of sharing a CONCISE history.Maybe more detail should be given to the history of Portugal before 1700 CE.If you are looking for a reasonably quick overview, then this an excellent starting point.If you are looking for greater detail, you are going to need more than this publication supplies you. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Europe - General    2. Europe - Spain & Portugal    3. History    4. History - General History    5. History: World    6. Portugal    7. European history (ie other than Britain & Ireland)    8. History / Europe / General    9. Portugal--History    10. Spain   

Subjects:  1. 1030-1109    2. Alfonso    3. Alfonso VI, 1065-1109    4. Castile (Spain)    5. Europe - Spain & Portugal    6. History    7. History - General History    8. History: American    9. King of Castile and Leon,    10. Leon (Kingdom)    11. Spain & Portugal    12. Spain And Portugal - History    13. VI,    14. European history (ie other than Britain & Ireland)    15. Portugal    16. Spain   

Reviews (1)

Insight into the complexity of Spanish colonialism in the Americas
Although this is a masterly piece of scholastic writing by perhaps the pre-eminent historian of Spanish colonialism in the Americas, it is also a vivid read for the non-scholar (such as myself).If you believe that the Spanish relationship to the native people in their American colonies was a consistently brutal and usurious one, this book will give you an appreciation of how highly varied and sometimes very moral (in the morality of the day), it actually was, especially toward the end.
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Subjects:  1. Americas (North Central South West Indies)    2. Colonization    3. Europe - Spain & Portugal    4. Government relations    5. History    6. History - General History    7. History: World    8. Indians    9. Missions    10. Native American    11. Colonization & independence    12. European history: c 1750 to c 1900    13. History / Spain & Portugal    14. Portugal    15. Spain   

Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Discoveries in geography    3. Discovery And Exploration (General)    4. Earth Sciences - Geography    5. Exploration    6. Explorers    7. General    8. History - General History    9. History: World    10. Portugal    11. Portuguese    12. Renaissance    13. Science    14. World - General    15. Gama, Vasco da   

Reviews (6)

Memorable, deep, and completely outstanding
This history book has several things going for it. First, it's eminently readable; the author is a skillful writer who keeps you thinking about the subject matter, not his own style. Second, the reader's interest is doubled by the author's constant interweaving of the development of Spanish character into the history. Thirdly, the author always attempts explanations of the deeper historical processes at work, keeping the (interesting anyway) history from devolving into just descriptions of events, kings, and battles.
A Good Overview Of Spanish History
If one is looking for a brief overview of Spanish history, art, and literature then this book might just be what is desired. While it does not go into great depth, it does provide the reader with an overall basis of beginnings of the Spanish peoples, the civilizations that invaded the Iberian pennisula (Visigoths, Romans, Moors), and describes each of the monarchs.
To a reader from Corona, CA United States
If you say that until this day NOBODY is sure of the origins of the Iberians, then how can you wholeheartedly dispute his claims. I think what he writes is just like every other history book, unless you were there you can't really know what is completely the truth. There are grains of truth and grains of personal opinion in every history book and historical opinion, including your post. Also, many books have been written that the Moors (and I don't say Arabs because the Moors were not Arabs) were in Spain for about 800 years. You can read how they were described by nearer contemporaries than us including Shakespeare's Othello. To dispute his claims is disputing many claims from many books. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Civilization    2. Europe - Spain & Portugal    3. General    4. History    5. History - General History    6. History: World    7. National characteristics, Span    8. National characteristics, Spanish    9. Spain    10. European history (ie other than Britain & Ireland)    11. History / General    12. Portugal   

Subjects:  1. Catalonia (Spain)    2. Europe - Spain & Portugal    3. History    4. History - General History    5. History: World    6. Philip III, 1598-1621    7. Philip IV, 1621-1665    8. Reapers' War, 1640-1659    9. Spain    10. Catalonia (Spain)--History--Revolution, 1640    11. European history: c 1500 to c 1750    12. History / Europe / General    13. Portugal    14. c 1700 to c 1800    15. c 1800 to c 1900   

Reviews (3)

Fascinating!
This is a lively account of the Portuguese sea discoveries in the 15th and 16th century, arriving at new lands and meeting new people, the trade and other exchanges that followed, all presented in a most interesting manner. Movement, colour, adventure make this book engaging reading. I also have Hermano Saraiva' s "Portugal a Companion History", another excellent book. I think they go very well together, one for the overseas history the other for Portugal itself. These are two books that bring history to life.

Fascinating and informative reading
This book on the Portuguese history overseas is not a boring record of past events but a lively account of the intense movement of the Portuguese in the so-called Age of Discoveries, from Madeira to Brazil, to Japan and to Korea. It is a fascinating and well-documented record of the constant flow of people and commodities between Portugal and Africa, Asia and America. The superb illustrations help bring to life this constant flux and reflux. I have thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and am very happy to recommend it to anyone interested in Portugal and its people,of today and yesterday.

Another Great Introduction
In terms of scope of work, Russell-Wood's Portuguese Empire -World on the Move is a welcome addition to the "holistic" study of Portuguese overseas enterprise. To be sure, Portuguese scholarship has "caught up" with developments in Western historiography in the last two decades or so; there is also no shortage of area studies. Yet coverage remains uneven and this is especially so where English works on the subject is concernedRead more

Subjects:  1. Civilization, Modern    2. Colonies And Colonization    3. Europe - Spain & Portugal    4. Foreign countries    5. History    6. History & Theory - General    7. History - General History    8. History: World    9. Intercultural communication    10. Portuguese    11. Portuguese influences    12. Spain And Portugal - History    13. World - General    14. Colonization & independence    15. Cultural studies    16. European history: c 1500 to c 1750    17. European history: c 1750 to c 1900    18. European history: c 500 to c 1500    19. Portugal    20. Science / Biology    21. c 1000 CE to c 1500    22. c 1500 to c 1600    23. c 1600 to c 1700    24. c 1700 to c 1800    25. c 1800 to c 1900   

Reviews (13)

Into the Unknown......
Prince Henry 'the Navigator' provides the reader an intricately detailed account of the life of this crusader, geographical visionary, and aggressive entrepreneur.Seeking an end around the Saharan caravan trade, Henry pushed maritime exploration down Africa's Atlantic coast into a region shrouded in myth and mystery.Ostensibly claiming a crusader's fervor for the conversion of the barbarous, Henry initiated the Afro-Atlantic slave trade, charted Africa's western shoreline, commercially developed the Azores, battled desperately for control of the Canaries, and, as time and events allowed, launched invasions of Morocco with varying degrees of success. Great book, but don't take this one to the beach !!
Mr. Russell's book is superb in many ways: the prose is very elegant, even to a French speaking reader, the author's erudition is impressive and any amateur historian will find here a fascinating introduction to a side of European history which he or she is most unlikely to have been familiar with prior to acquiring Mr. Russell's book. That "the navigator" hardly ever set foot on a ship of any kind, I must confess I didn't know! His cupidity, pettiness in certain ways and magnanimity in other are very intriguing. The context is beautifully described. In other words, here is a splendid book by a very gifted historian. One word of caution, though: this is not an easy read! Don't take Mr. Russell's book to the beach after a stressful few months at the office. It takes a relaxed and attentive mind to really enjoy the book. I read it whilst in a yoga camp on a carrot juice fast. Both were perfect!

Henry the Navigator: Debunking or Hatchet Job?
In 1385, when Henry the Navigator was born, Europe was a Eurasian backwater--fragmented and poor, inferior to China in marine technology, and far behind the Islamic world in geographic scope and cultural achievement.Two centuries afterward, Europeans dominated the world.Henry was one of the individuals at the root of this turnaround.Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography & Autobiography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Biography/Autobiography    4. Europe - Spain & Portugal    5. General    6. Historical - General    7. Biography & Autobiography / General    8. Biography: historical    9. Biography: royalty    10. European history: c 500 to c 1500    11. Geographical discovery & exploration    12. Portugal    13. c 1000 CE to c 1500   

Reviews (13)

The absolut rumor
Or as we could say, "Everything you dont need to know about the true Fatima events". Yes, the old rumor is a conquerer of our crowds, without chances to know the real and original reports about
Beautiful!
Wonderful Catholic historian William Thomas Walsh here relates the amazing and true story of the three peasant children who were witnesses to the apparation of Our Lady of Fatima.They were first visited by the Angel of Peace, Archangel Michael.Later, on the 13th of each month, they were visited by the Blessed Mother of God.On the final visitation, October 13,1917, she performed a miracle, witnessed by thousands.It was "the day the Sun danced".
"My Time Will Come"
The facts surrounding Our Lady of Fatimas appearance in Portugal is well documented with further light being shed by quick synopsis's by various reviewers here. If you are interested in what happened atFatima thanthis dated book will work temporarily because itis complete but lacks up to the moment developments. However, the accountserves it's puposeandis a springboard forfurther investigtion into the various issues tthat are yet to be resolved. The Third Secret remains to this day a major source of controversy especially since Sister Lucia,the last surviving memberhas passed away. The conclusions you draw will be based on fact and faithbut whether the truth has ever been rightfully or fully revealed is something that will require further reading. The Fatima Crusader is a good source of ongoing information on current develpments as is the work of Father Gruner.If you want a basic account of the circumstances surrounding Our Lady of Fatima this is a book for you. This book is a good place to begin if you are interested but I wouldrecommend others as well like "The Devil's Final Battle." This book is like a quite meditation; it is even more important now than when it was written nearly sixty years ago. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Blessed Virgin, Saint    2. Christianity - Catholicism    3. Christianity - Theology - Christology    4. Fatima, Our Lady of    5. Inspirational    6. Inspirational - Catholic    7. Mary,    8. Religion    9. Personal Christian testimony & popular inspirational works    10. Portugal    11. Religion / Catholicism    12. Saints & hagiography    13. The historical Jesus   

Subjects:  1. 1974-    2. Contemporary Politics - Europe    3. Europe - General    4. Europe - Spain & Portugal    5. Foreign Relations    6. History    7. History - General History    8. History: World    9. Politics and government    10. Portugal    11. 20th century    12. European history: from c 1900 -    13. History / Europe / General    14. Portugal--Politics and government--1974-    15. Spain   

Subjects:  1. Cities and towns    2. Europe - Spain & Portugal    3. History & Theory - General    4. History - General History    5. Political History    6. Political Science    7. Politics/International Relations    8. Social History    9. Spain    10. 20th century    11. Cultural studies    12. Political Science / History & Theory    13. Portugal    14. Social groups & communities   

Subjects:  1. Brazil    2. Foreign countries    3. History    4. History - General History    5. History: World    6. Latin America - General    7. Latin America - South America    8. Portugal    9. Portuguese    10. Relations    11. Essays, journals, letters & other prose works    12. History / Latin America    13. Latin America   

Reviews (2)

Good introduction
Kennedy's book is a great introduction to the political history of Muslim Iberia.Densely packed with information, the book could have used more maps and lexcionic information.If you are not already familiar with the general outline of the situation in medieval Iberia (either from an encyclopedia or a survey of the Middle Ages), you may want to become so before tackling Kennedy's work.This book should serve as a foundation for building a larger and more detailed understanding through future reading.

A condensed summary of events from a different perspective
Hugh Kennedy attempts to summarize nearly eight centuries of complex History into a little over 300 pages. The result is a tedious, incomplete yet interesting read.Read more

Subjects:  1. 711-1516    2. Europe - Spain & Portugal    3. History    4. History - General History    5. History: World    6. Islamic History    7. Muslims    8. Portugal    9. Spain    10. Spain And Portugal - History    11. Colonization & independence    12. European history (ie other than Britain & Ireland)    13. History / General    14. Islamic studies    15. Social history    16. c 1000 CE to c 1500   

Subjects:  1. 16th century    2. 17th century    3. Africa - South - South Africa    4. African    5. Art & Art Instruction    6. Art, Ethiopian    7. Christian art and symbolism    8. Congresses    9. Ethiopia    10. Europe - General    11. History    12. History: World    13. Cultural studies    14. History of art & design styles: c 1600 to c 1800    15. Portugal    16. Religious subjects depicted in art    17. World history: c 1500 to c 1750    18. c 1500 to c 1600    19. c 1600 to c 1700   

Reviews (1)

The history of a country in a nutshell
This history of Portugal contains a remarkable amount of information for such a small book, small enough to go into your pocket or handbag. It covers the pre-history of Portugal and the founding of the country in the 12th century and its history all the way to the end of the 20th century. I like this book because it is so informative, concise and readable. It also has lots of illustrations including very clear maps. Another aspect I like in this history is that it is very objective, no bias in favour or against the country. This is the best history of Portugal I know and I would recommend to anyone interested in this subject. Great value for money. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Europe - Spain & Portugal    2. History - General History    3. European history (ie other than Britain & Ireland)    4. Places & peoples: general interest    5. Portugal