| Conquistadors | 
 enlarge | Author: Michael Wood
Publisher: BBC Books
Category: Book
List Price: £18.99
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Avg. Customer Rating:  8 reviews
Sales Rank: 29524
Media: Hardcover
Pages: 288
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.7
ISBN: 056355116X
EAN: 9780563551164
ASIN: 056355116X
Publication Date: November 23, 2000
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
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Amazon.co.uk Review
Could a 16th-century army of 160 Spaniards subjugate a Native American empire of 5-10 million people? Conquistadors, recounting "tales of heroism and endurance, but also of immeasurable greed and staggering brutality", explains how the "lure of gold", the attributes of individual leaders and the hand of fate made this possible.The book tells of alien cultures meeting for the first time; of Cortes conquering Mexico, Francisco Pizarro's clash with the Incas, the search for El Dorado, and Cabeza de Vaca's years spent peacefully amongst Native Americans. Tying in with a BBC television series in which Michael Wood follows in the footsteps of these explorers, this copiously illustrated and attractively presented book incorporates glimpses of his own journeys. A thought-provoking, balanced and not excessively gory account, Conquistadors reveals how Europeans got bank vaults of gold, potatoes on their dinner tables and lupins in their gardens, while the Native Americans suffered "devastating cultural loss" and gained ravaging diseases. Feeling that "blame or regret are pointless", Wood's focus is on understanding the events and explaining how the world still lives in the conquest's wake. Debate on the morality of the conquest and on what it means to be human occurred in the 16th century and questions on the treatment of traditional cultures, the exploitation of the natural world and globalisation remain as living legacies of the Conquistadors. --Karen Tiley
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| Customer Reviews: Read 3 more reviews...
A great introduction to a period in time which shaped our world November 15, 2008
The time of the Conquistadors not only re-shaped European politics in it's own time, but also has had an enormous effect on the world of today. Even at the time those involved with it knew they were witnessing events unparalled and later Historians have agreed; Karl Marx called it the greatest event in history and he has a good arguement.
Michael Wood has produced a great read which combines historical fact with breathtaking descriptions of the beautiful and special place which is South America. For those of you unfamiliar with the television series this was produced to accompany, Wood follows the trails of four of the great stories of conquest and exploration during the Spanish 'Conquista' of the sixteenth century. In doing so he retells the stories in a way which really helps to get a feel for the lands through which these adventures, and catastrophes, took place; and offers us some stunning photographs of the landscape as well as images from the time. Wood manages to capture the awe and wonder as well as greed of the Conquistadors and offers an insight into how the Native peoples felt, through careful and thorough research twinned with actually being in the places he is writing about.
The book does not either claim to nor does it, offer a comprehensive account of the actions of the Conquistadors. Instead it gives a very good introduction and summary of Spanish presence in the 'New World' which covers the blood shed, violence and greed as well as the extraordinary hardships and (occasional) friendships which occurred. It also gives good accounts of the overthrow of Incan and Aztec civilisations and the incredible journeys of Francisco Orellana and Cabeza De Vaca.
The book ends by trying to turn our thoughts to how the two civilisations perceived one another and the injustices which were not wholly supported by all in Spain. Finally, Wood summarises by linking the Conquista to the start of globalisation and all that goes with it; and by drawing parallels with today's world. This is a very well written, and thoroughly gripping read for a period in history which little heed is paid to nowadays. This time was a period of exploration which could only be rivaled today by the discovery of an alien civilisation, and which shaped the world as we know it.
A real must read if you don't know much about the subject or if you want a more tangible story of the Conquista then those offered by other books.
Brilliantly Written August 29, 2008
This is the companion title to Michael Wood's brilliant but sadly much-ignored television series on the Conquistadors. The book does stand very well on its own, and in many ways it does surpass the television show as it allows Wood to go into greater detail.
The book follows the stories of four Conquistadors. One is Hernan Cortes, the destroyer of the Aztecs, while the others include Francisco Pizzaro, the conqueror of the Inca Empire, Francisco Orellana, explorer of the Amazon river, and Cabeza de Vaca, a conquistador who went native.
The book also tells us (rather sparingly) of Wood's journey in the footsteps of these conquistadors, and of his own experiences as he sailed down the amazon on rafts (as Orellana did) or of his trek through the Texan desert (in imitation of de Vaca). These segments bring an immediacy to the text.
Wood's great strength is in his writing. This isn't a dull text book listing names, dates and battles. Instead it's an exciting and well written journey through the Americas of the 16th century. Wood also turns a sympathetic eye to the plights of the native peoples, and he shows a great humanity throughout the book. The last chapter 'All the World is Human' is a moving look at the effects of the conquest, and of its impact on world history.
This was one of the earliest books I brought on the Conquistadors, and it helped spark my passion about this era of history. If you'd like to learn about the conquistadors, then this should be the first book you turn too. It's not too in-depth, but it does provide you with a fascinating glimpse into this epoch making and bloody period of history.
A lavish book: informative and well written February 24, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
When I ordered this book I was expecting a standard paperback - but no, this book is nothing of the sort. It's much larger and also contains excellent photographs, drawings and graphical information.
The 16th century Spanish conquest of the Americas had huge implications for global developments, and, along with the British and the French, the Spanish can most certainly lay claim to be among the most influential nations on earth through Empire.
The conquistadors overcame massive odds and (rightly or wrongly) succeeded in colonisation. Such a massive topic cannot of course be adequately covered in a single book; however Michael Wood does an excellent job of highlighting the salient points and developments for the reader.
History is written by the victors, but, in many respects this book also pays homage to the great civilisations which were eclipsed by Spanish aggrandisement - such as the Incas and the Aztecs.
Overall, this book would grace the bookshelf of anyone with an interest in the Americas, Spanish history, Hispanic studies, or even history in general.
 More than just about Cortes & Pizarro July 29, 2004
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
As you read this book, you can imagine it being Michael Wood's speaking script for his TV program.As well as the stories you would expect about Cortes & Pizarro, I was pleasantly surprised to read of 2 explorers I'd never heard of - Orellana & de Vaca - which made this different to many other books of the same theme.
Gripping July 1, 2003
6 out of 6 found this review helpful
This book presents a vivid and enthralling description of the conquest of South and Central America, focusing on four of the key stories. Wood's writing is always clear and his lyrical descriptions really bring the scene alive. The book is lavishly illustrated and the text is frequently interspersed with quotations from the memoirs of the conquistadors and, more interestingly, the writings of the peoples they conquered. The book is rounded off by a discussion of the issue of human rights in relation to the conquest. "Conquistadors" will leave you thirsting to find out more, and I am grateful to the author for providing lots of suggestions for further reading, which I am just beginning to explore. Highly recommended reading for anyone with an interest in South American culture, or the history of the world in general.
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