1492: The Decline of Medievalism and the Rise of the Modern Age

by Barnet Litvinoff

An in-depth analysis of the year that marked the decline of medievalism and heralded the Renaissance examines the development of the political, ethnic, and religious relationships whose legacy is still felt today.

Genres: History

268 pages, Hardcover

First published May 27, 1991

Reviews

[Stephen Hayes · Rating 4 out of 5]

The year 1492 marks turning point in geopolitics. For seven centuries Islamic powers had controlled the trade routes between Asia and Europe, particularly the lucrative spice trade. In 1492, however, the tables were turned, when the Christian kingdoms of Aragon and Castile in Spain conquered the Muslim Kingdom of Granada, and thus controlled access to the Atlantic Ocean.

In the same year Christopher Columbus pioneered the trade route to the Americas (though he never knew it, and till his death thought he had discovered a new route to Asia). Six years later Vasco da Gama pioneered the sea route to India, thus enabling European merchants to bypass the Islamic middle men.

Barnet Litvinoff gives a concise view of the political, technological and cultural changes that made this possible. It is not a pretty story. The wheeling, dealing back stabbing and betrayals that dominated European diplomacy and politics at the time makes The Game of Thrones look like something written by Enid Blyton.

[Joseph Golias · Rating 3 out of 5]

Barnet Litvinoff attempts a very ambitious undertaking in this history. While he does a good job at detailing the political intrigue and conflict centered around the year 1492 the book seems to lose focus. Lotvinoff spends much of his narrative detailing European designs on Italy, which is fascinating, but he never truly makes his case for the supposed thesis of the work, the transformation of European society from medievalism into modernism. It is obvious the book was timed to take advantage of the 500 year anniversary of Columbus's voyage, but it becomes more of a muddled history of European dynastic ambition and the fragmentation of Italy than of a true study in the remarkable intellectual and political transformation of the renaissance and Reformation. Although an interesting narrative, in the end it falls short of it's stated goal.

[Bender · Rating 1 out of 5]

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[Rebekah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this book does a lot to put things from that important time in European history into perspective.