{"product_id":"conquerors-how-portugal-forged-the-first-global-empire-9780812994001","title":"Conquerors: How Portugal Forged the First Global Empire","description":"\u003cb\u003eIn \u003ci\u003eConquerors, \u003c\/i\u003e \u003ci\u003eNew York Times \u003c\/i\u003ebestselling author Roger Crowley gives us the epic story of the emergence of Portugal, a small, poor nation that enjoyed a century of maritime supremacy thanks to the daring and navigational skill of its explorers--a tactical advantage no other country could match. Portugal's discovery of a sea route to India, campaign of imperial conquest over Muslim rulers, and domination of the spice trade would forever disrupt the Mediterranean and build the first global economy.\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e Crowley relies on letters and eyewitness testimony to tell the story of tiny Portugal's rapid and breathtaking rise to power. \u003ci\u003eConquerors\u003c\/i\u003e reveals the Imp rio Portugu s in all of its splendor and ferocity, bringing to life the personalities of the enterprising and fanatical house of Aviz. Figures such as King Manuel \"the Fortunate,\" Jo o II \"the Perfect Prince,\" marauding governor Afonso de Albuquerque, and explorer Vasco da Gama juggled their private ambitions and the public aims of the empire, often suffering astonishing losses in pursuit of a global fortune. Also central to the story of Portugal's ascent was its drive to eradicate Islamic culture and establish a Christian empire in the Indian Ocean. Portuguese explorers pushed deep into the African continent in search of the mythical Christian king Prester John, and they ruthlessly besieged Indian port cities in their attempts to monopolize trade. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e The discovery of a route to India around the horn of Africa was not only a brilliant breakthrough in navigation but heralded a complete upset of the world order. For the next century, no European empire was more ambitious, no rulers more rapacious than the kings of Portugal. In the process they created the first long-range maritime empire and set in motion the forces of globalization that now shape our world. At Crowley's hand, the complete story of the Portuguese empire and the human cost of its ambition can finally be told. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003ePraise for \u003ci\u003eConquerors\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \"Excellent . . . Crowley's interpretations are nuanced and fair.\"\u003cb\u003e--\u003ci\u003eThe Christian Science Monitor\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \"In a riveting narrative, Crowley chronicles Portugal's horrifically violent trajectory from 'impoverished, marginal' nation to European power, vying with Spain and Venice to dominate the spice trade.\"\u003cb\u003e--\u003ci\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/i\u003e (starred review)\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \"Brings to life the Portuguese explorers . . . perfect for anyone who likes a high seas tale.\"\u003cb\u003e--\u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \"Readers of Crowley's previous books will not be disappointed by this exciting tale of sea battles, land campaigns and shipwrecks. . . . Crowley makes a good case for reclaiming Portugal's significance as forger of the first global empire.\"\u003cb\u003e--\u003ci\u003eThe Daily Telegraph\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \"Crowley has shown a rare gift for combining compelling narrative with lightly worn academic thoroughness as well as for balancing the human with the geopolitical--qualities on display here. The story he has to tell may be a thrilling one but not every historian could tell it so thrillingly.\"\u003cb\u003e--Michael Prodger, \u003ci\u003eFinancial Times\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \"A fast-moving and highly readable narrative . . .  Crowley's] detailed reconstruction of events is based on a close reading of the works of the chroniclers, notably Barros and Correa, whose accounts were written in the tradition of the chronicles of chivalry.\"\u003cb\u003e--\u003ci\u003eHistory Today\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding Type:\u003c\/b\u003e Hardcover\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Random House\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 12\/01\/2015\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN:\u003c\/b\u003e 9780812994001\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 400\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 1.50lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 9.40h x 6.40w x 1.30d\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eReview Citations: \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003ci\u003eLibrary Journal Prepub Alert\u003c\/i\u003e 07\/01\/2015 pg. 54\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/i\u003e 09\/01\/2015\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/i\u003e 10\/12\/2015\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eLibrary Journal\u003c\/i\u003e 10\/15\/2015 pg. 100\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eShelf Awareness\u003c\/i\u003e 12\/29\/2015\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eNew York Times Book Review\u003c\/i\u003e 01\/17\/2016 pg. 17\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eLibrary Journal\u003c\/i\u003e 07\/01\/2015\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Roger Crowley","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42917047599285,"sku":"9780812994001","price":29.75,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0473\/0804\/6492\/products\/img_7b08a5f0-0aeb-4866-9964-7c11efb6eb52.jpg?v=1687276227","url":"https:\/\/pastforward.org\/products\/conquerors-how-portugal-forged-the-first-global-empire-9780812994001","provider":"Past Forward","version":"1.0","type":"link"}