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 (3)

Christoper Columbus:A Participate
In The Worlds of Christopher Columbus, William D. Phillips, Jr. and Carla Rahn Phillips place Columbus in a broad world context.Phillips and Phillips discuss Columbus and his travels across the Atlantic as a part of a larger inclination of movement in Europe to other parts of the world.By examining Columbus and European society in broader historical and geographic contexts, Phillips and Phillips show that Columbus's voyage across the Atlantic was not a unique event but rather a "continuation of a centuries-old human process of exploration and migration." (1) Before 1492, Europeans met and dealt with peoples "in pursuit of wealth and in service to a militant Christianity." (1)Columbus's voyage west was an attempt to continue what Europeans had done for centuries.

Subjects:  1. America    2. Biography    3. Columbus, Christopher    4. Explorers    5. History    6. History - General History    7. History: World    8. North American    9. Renaissance    10. Spain    11. World - General    12. American history: c 1500 to c 1800    13. History / World    14. The Americas    15. World history   

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. Correspondence    2. History    3. History - General History    4. History: World    5. Immigrants    6. Latin America    7. Latin America - General    8. Latin America - South America    9. Spain    10. Spaniards    11. American history: c 1500 to c 1800    12. History / Latin America    13. Modern period, c 1500 onwards    14. South America   

Reviews (1)

Detailed and balanced account of Spanish occupation of Peru
This work is actually part 3 in the series of volumes written by the author, who wrote about the events of the Spanish conquest of Peru soon after they occurred.This part 3 was never published and only discoveredin the 70's.It comes across as a well-balanced presentation of events asthe partners of Francisco Pizzaro and Diego de Almegro search for anddiscover the Inca civilization in the Andean region of South America. Detailed and easy to read and understand, the author himself was notinvolved in the events but was able to speak with men still living fromthose times and understand it by recollecting of his own experiences.Thebook contains notes at the end of each chapter, some illustrations, maps,and a glossary.I found this work compelling, but its rating arisesbecause it did not reach the level of some other conquest stories, such asD and C of Mexico, De Vaca, or La Florida (available in De SotoChronicles).But is the only thorough account of the Peruvian conquest Iam aware of apart from that of Pedro Pizarro.Another recently uncoveredwork, Narrative of the Incas, tells of events from the Inca's perspective. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Conquest, 1522-1548    2. Discovery and exploration    3. Expeditions & Discoveries    4. History    5. History - General History    6. History: World    7. Latin America - South America    8. Native American    9. Peru    10. American history: c 1500 to c 1800    11. European history: c 1500 to c 1750    12. Other prose: 16th to 18th centuries    13. Spain   

Subjects:  1. 1648-1714    2. Commerce    3. Diplomatic History    4. Europe - Great Britain - General    5. History    6. History - General History    7. History: World    8. Netherlands    9. Sephardim    10. Wars of Independence, 1556-164    11. Wars of Independence, 1556-1648    12. Western Europe - Benelux    13. European history: c 1500 to c 1750    14. History / Great Britain    15. International relations    16. Jewish studies    17. Spain    18. c 1500 to c 1600    19. c 1600 to c 1700    20. c 1700 to c 1800   

Reviews (5)

The Definitive Book on de Soto
This is probably the most authoritative and best written book about Spanish conquistador Hernando de Soto and the Indians he met during his famous expedition to the United States, 1539-1543.The author spent decades resolving the mysteries of de Soto's 4,000 mile route from Florida to the Carolinas, and across the Mississippi to Texas. He relies heavily on archaeological investigations to identify and describe the Indian nations de Soto met during his odyssey.
Excellent Look at the Forgotten Conquest
Charles Hudson is one of the greatest authors on the Nations of the Southeastern States, and in this book he turns his attentions towards their early contacts with the Spanish conquistadors in the mid-1500s. The first chapter of the book is nice, giving historical backgrounds and cultural details concerning both the Spanish (who had recently unified their country and having driven the Muslims and Jews out, were eager for more conquests) and the Mound Builders (who were in fact several highly developed civilizations throughout the Southeast). Another masterful work from Hudson
This is by far the most comprehensible work on DeSoto that I've read to date. It fully brings to life the stuggles of the expedition, as well as the depridations done to the indeginous peoples of the Southeast. It reads much like a novel, bringing to life several key participates, both Spainards, and natives alike. This book is a masterpiece, decades in the making, wonderfully researched, and written. If the early exploration of the Southeast is of intrest to you, then this is a must own book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Anthropology - General    2. Archaeology    3. Expeditions & Discoveries    4. History - General History    5. History - U.S.    6. Social Science    7. Sociology    8. United States - State & Local - General    9. American history: c 1500 to c 1800    10. Anthropology    11. Ethnic studies    12. Geographical discovery & exploration    13. USA    14. c 1500 to c 1600   

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. 1949-    2. Biography & Autobiography    3. Latin America - South America    4. Non-Classifiable    5. Nonfiction    6. Parrado, Nando,    7. Personal Memoirs    8. Rugby    9. South America - History    10. Spanish: Adult Nonfiction   

Reviews (8)

Awdaghast
The people of Awdaghast were berbers, but they were not "white-skinned". They were light brown and likely ranged from yellow in color to black, like most other Northern Africans today who live between the northernmost edge of Africa and the Sahel. Thoughout all known history, this region has been a mix of the peoples who frequently migrate across it. To label this city in particular as "white", as if some barrier existed between it and the black cities around it, is ridiculous. This is especially true, considering that the city was founded by blacks (soninke) and was abandoned as the people (everyone - berber and non-berber) moved further south to more fertile lands.

Learn about 11th Century Spain
This is more a history of 11th Century Christian and Islamic Spain than about El Cid. In fact, Rodrigo Diaz, El Cid, is hardly mentioned in the first 100 pages of the book. It is good history, though, about an era and place that most Americans know little about. Excellent history of the Cid and the al-Andalus
Chances are, if you were famous and died a long time ago, Charlton Heston has played you in some epic film.Such is the case with El Cid, the Spanish warlord who successfully played the Christian and Muslim tensions and ended up seizing Valencia for his own.Fletcher's book cuts through the myth to explore who the Cid really was, at the same time offering very intricate portraits of the history and personality of Medieval Spain, at the time the joining of the Christian and Muslim worlds.And it succeeds admirably. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 711-1516    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Cid,    4. Europe - Spain & Portugal    5. General    6. History    7. History: World    8. Medieval    9. Spain    10. ca. 1043-1099    11. Biography: historical    12. Cid    13. European history: c 500 to c 1500    14. History / Medieval    15. History, World | European | Spain   

Subjects:  1. Biography & Autobiography    2. Caribbean & West Indies - Cuba    3. Communism    4. Cuba - History    5. Presidents & Heads of State    6. Spanish: Adult Nonfiction   

Reviews (1)

A Very Substantial Introduction
There's so much material in this little book that I had to read it twice: the first time I was overwhelmed.
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Subjects:  1. Civil War, 1936-1939    2. Europe - Spain & Portugal    3. History    4. History - General History    5. History: World    6. Military - Other    7. Revolutionary    8. Spain    9. Civil war    10. European history: from c 1900 -    11. History / Spain & Portugal    12. History, World | European | Spain    13. Inter-war period, 1918-1939   

Subjects:  1. Europe - Spain & Portugal    2. History    3. History - Military / War    4. Latin America - General    5. Military    6. Military - General    7. Military - Naval    8. History / Military / General    9. Spain    10. Warfare & Defence    11. c 1500 to c 1600    12. c 1600 to c 1700    13. c 1700 to c 1800   

Reviews (2)

St. Ignatius of Loyola
An enlightening book about St. Ignatius of Loyola... It has an informative introduction and autobiography about his life. The second half of the book is a listing and description of his spiritual exercises.
An excellent compliation
"The Classics of Western Spirituality" from Paulist Press has been dedicated, over the last twenty years, to producing excellent translations, and this is no exception.The compliation includes a detailed Introduction, the Autobiography, the Spiritual Excerices, and fragments of the Constitutions and the Spiritual Diary.Though it would have benefited from the inclusion of the Formula - an essential document in its own right - this volume provides intelligent translations and crtical explorations into the sometimes-confusing meaning of Ignatius' prose.The selections from the Diary are especially recommended, as they comprise - to my knowledge - the only fragments translated into English, and are thoughtfully printed so as to give the reader a feel for the outlay of the work, scribbled in Ignatius' journal.Highly recommended. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1491-1556    2. Biography    3. Christian saints    4. Christianity - History - General    5. Early works to 1800    6. Ignatius,    7. Institutions & Organizations    8. Religion    9. Religion - Classic Works    10. Religious    11. Spain    12. Spiritual exercises    13. Spirituality - General    14. of Loyola, Saint,    15. Christian worship    16. Early Church    17. Saints & hagiography   

Reviews (1)

Highly detailed, some incredible research
I found this book a bit heavy on the historic side of things when I first read it. Originally I was looking for a more practical guide to the river and it's communities as part of a canoe trip from Aranda de Duero in Spain to Oporto in Portugal. However, it's been a few years since I completed that adventure and now I'm settling down in the Duero region so the book has become a much more interesting part of my library. This is an incredible part of the world and this book is a good source of information - although an update wouldn't go amiss at this stage... ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Description And Travel    2. Duero River Valley (Spain and Portugal)    3. Europe - Spain & Portugal    4. Pictorials    5. Spain And Portugal - History    6. Travel    7. Travel - Foreign    8. Travel / Pictorials   

Subjects:  1. 1830-1898    2. America    3. Colonies    4. History    5. History - General History    6. History: World    7. International Relations - General    8. Latin America    9. Latin America - General    10. Latin America - South America    11. Sources    12. Spain    13. To 1830    14. American history: c 1500 to c 1800    15. American history: c 1800 to c 1900    16. Colonization & independence    17. History / Latin America    18. History, World | Latin American    19. Social history    20. South America    21. c 1500 to c 1600    22. c 1600 to c 1700    23. c 1700 to c 1800    24. c 1800 to c 1900   

Subjects:  1. Catalonia (Spain)    2. Catalonian style    3. Cookery, Spanish    4. Cooking    5. Cooking / Wine    6. History    7. Regional & Ethnic - Spanish    8. Social life and customs    9. Spanish Cookery    10. Cooking / General    11. National & regional cuisine    12. Spain   

Reviews (3)

Decline of the Californios: A Social History of the Spanish-Speaking Californias, 1846-1890
Wonderful genealogical source for those with ties to the "Californios"...great reading for anyone interested in early California history as well.

Classic California - Here We Come!
Pitt's history of the decline of the Californios is an extremely important record of California's past. Few contemporary Californian's are familiar with the rugged settlers who came to this place and created a society of their own. Largely abandoned by the Spanish and then Mexican overseers, robbed by the invading Americanos, the Californios left their indelible mark upon us. their influence is subtle now, but we still live in the various "ranchos" they founded and ranched. This is a very accessible and well-written piece of scholarship. It is simple enough to qualify as a popular history, well researched enough to be taken seriously in academia.

it was informative but with so many names,a bit confusing
pitt certainly gives us a descriptive account of life in California before the gold rush and after.his referring to so many names and families did make the whole story of the people a little confusing. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. California    2. Ethnic Studies - General    3. Hispanic Americans    4. History    5. History - U.S.    6. History: American    7. Mexican Americans    8. United States - 19th Century/Old West    9. United States - General    10. United States - State & Local - General    11. Ethnic studies    12. History / General    13. History of specific racial & ethnic groups    14. Local history    15. USA    16. c 1800 to c 1900   

Subjects:  1. Ancient - General    2. Ancient World History    3. Antiquities    4. Civilization    5. General    6. Greeks    7. History: American    8. Iberians    9. Phoenicians    10. Sociology    11. Spain    12. To 711    13. European history (ie other than Britain & Ireland)   

Subjects:  1. 18th century    2. America    3. Castile    4. Citizenship    5. Colonies    6. Europe - Spain & Portugal    7. History    8. Political Freedom & Security - Civil Rights    9. Political History    10. Politics / Current Events    11. Politics/International Relations    12. Spain    13. American history: c 1500 to c 1800    14. European history: c 1500 to c 1750    15. European history: c 1750 to c 1900    16. Immigration & emigration    17. Latin America    18. Law / General    19. Social groups & communities    20. Social history    21. The Americas    22. c 1700 to c 1800