[books 2014] Rivers of Gold
38. Rivers of Gold: The Rise of the Spanish Empire by Hugh Thomas
Many years ago I read Thomas's The Slave Trade and The Conquest of Mexico. I've been vaguely aware that he'd been working on an enlarged history of the Spanish empire but it wasn't until the third volume hit the shops recently, that I took notice. Fortunately the library not only carries the first two, they were in stock. I've treated myself and bought the third.
Rivers of Gold is the first and covers the period roughly from Columbus's first voyage to Magellan/Elcano's circumnavigation of the world. It covers not only the exploration and settlement in the New World, but also what was going on in Spain and how that affected policy with respect to the New World.
Having read a lot about the conquest and settlement of Mexico, those histories always gloss over the Spanish settlements that preceded Mexico, and this book satisfyingly fills in that bit of history.
I found it hard going - there are a lot of names and places, and you never know which ones to store away for later. But it's well written and interesting.
You probably have to be my sort of history nerd for this to appeal to you, but it is very good at what it does.
Many years ago I read Thomas's The Slave Trade and The Conquest of Mexico. I've been vaguely aware that he'd been working on an enlarged history of the Spanish empire but it wasn't until the third volume hit the shops recently, that I took notice. Fortunately the library not only carries the first two, they were in stock. I've treated myself and bought the third.
Rivers of Gold is the first and covers the period roughly from Columbus's first voyage to Magellan/Elcano's circumnavigation of the world. It covers not only the exploration and settlement in the New World, but also what was going on in Spain and how that affected policy with respect to the New World.
Having read a lot about the conquest and settlement of Mexico, those histories always gloss over the Spanish settlements that preceded Mexico, and this book satisfyingly fills in that bit of history.
I found it hard going - there are a lot of names and places, and you never know which ones to store away for later. But it's well written and interesting.
You probably have to be my sort of history nerd for this to appeal to you, but it is very good at what it does.