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Very Short Introductions #301
Los conquistadores: una breve introducción
En este libro ameno y riguroso, Matthew Restall y Felipe Fernández-Armesto nos presentan un panorama tan original como completo de la figura de los "conquistadores", es decir los hombres y mujeres de la península ibérica que viajaron hasta el continente americano para explorarlo e instalarse en él, centrándose en el periodo que va desde el primer viaje trasatlántico de Colón en 1492 hasta la extinción del reino inca en 1572. Los acontecimientos de este periodo han devenido paradigmáticos para los historiadores que estudian las conquistas, hechos que si bien suelen ser deplorables, violentos y destructivos, son a la vez creadores y transformadores. Alejándose de clichés y estereotipos machacados una y otra vez por la historiografía y que confunden la naturaleza de los logros de estos hombres, dando de ellos una imagen falsa, los autores explican con acierto quiénes fueron los conquistadores, qué hicieron, cómo lo hicieron, así como su forma de pensar, sus sentimientos y su comportamiento.
192 pages, Paperback
First published December 27, 2011
About the author
Matthew Restall
31 books87 followersMatthew Restall is a historian of Colonial Latin America. He is an ethnohistorian and a scholar of conquest, colonization, and the African diaspora in the Americas. He is currently Edwin Erle Sparks Professor of Latin American History and Anthropology, and Director of Latin American Studies, at the Pennsylvania State University. He is President of the American Society for Ethnohistory, a former editor of Ethnohistory journal, a senior editor of the Hispanic American Historical Review, editor of the book series Latin American Originals, and co-editor of the Cambridge Latin American Studies book series.
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September 21, 2023
Good primer before Restall's Seven Myths of the Conquest
The two works overlap. But this introduction brings a broader cast of characters, a necessarily expanded view of the European varieties of contacts and compromises as well as conquests, and a brisk tone in telling stories honed by a professor's decades of experience in classrooms and seminars. Restall has a knack for clear explanations and remains admirably open minded and fair minded in his theses. Recommended for all wanting facts as well as stories that aim at presenting a wider array of evidence and a greater range of viewpoints.
The two works overlap. But this introduction brings a broader cast of characters, a necessarily expanded view of the European varieties of contacts and compromises as well as conquests, and a brisk tone in telling stories honed by a professor's decades of experience in classrooms and seminars. Restall has a knack for clear explanations and remains admirably open minded and fair minded in his theses. Recommended for all wanting facts as well as stories that aim at presenting a wider array of evidence and a greater range of viewpoints.
August 11, 2024
Не разбрах каква е целта на двамата автори за написването на тази кратка книга. Ако гоним хронология, такава липсва. Ако се целят портретите на топ 5 от конкистадорите от ранния XVI век, такива също липсват, заменени с 2-3 изречения за месторождението им в Андалусия или Естремадура в редиците на дребното, полуграмотно, но устремено към печалби дребно благородничество. Ако се търси екзотичната приключенска страна, то информацията за нея е оскъдна. Ако е за пълното варварство на тези военнизирани предприемачи - мародери (защото редовната армия и висшата аристокрация не са си цапали лично ръцете с началната конкиста), то краят, запълнен с изявления от сорта “такова е било времето”, опровергава и това предположение. Ако е за “групов” портрет, то и такъв липсва, заменен от постоянни повторения на едни и същи твърдения, като например, че конете и пушките нямат нищо общо с по-лесното завладяване.
Общо взето, авторите представят конкистадорите като лишена от вина “природна стихия”. Имало едни разединени южно- и централноамерикански общества, които поради липсата си на обща идентичност, на визия и непрестанните си вражди, накрая връчили континенталните юзди на Кортес, Писаро, Короната, Църквата и Сие. Последното, впрочем, е до голяма степен вярно. Но не е единственият фактор в конкистата.
За препоръчване е това “въведение” да се пропусне.
Общо взето, авторите представят конкистадорите като лишена от вина “природна стихия”. Имало едни разединени южно- и централноамерикански общества, които поради липсата си на обща идентичност, на визия и непрестанните си вражди, накрая връчили континенталните юзди на Кортес, Писаро, Короната, Църквата и Сие. Последното, впрочем, е до голяма степен вярно. Но не е единственият фактор в конкистата.
За препоръчване е това “въведение” да се пропусне.
February 14, 2019
Конкистадорите са силни, но не със свои сили превземат Новия свят: http://knigolandia.info/book-review/k...
Случайно научих за издаването на тази книга у нас, а темата винаги ми е била много интересна. Както личи от оригиналното заглавие, “Конкистадорите” на Матю Раскал и Фелипе Фернандес-Арместо е само кратко въведение в мащабната и сложна история на завоеванието на Южна Америка от испанците. И ако добре познати са образи като Кортес и Писаро и техните действия, които малко или много са се превърнали в устойчив мит, който не позволява друга гледна точка към събитията, то истината отново се оказва малко или много различна. И в това наглед тънко книжле е събрана много информация, а по-надолу съм извадил няколко представителни цитата, които ме заинтригуваха и смятам, че могат да разпалят и вашия интерес.
Издателство Ашур
http://knigolandia.info/book-review/k...
Случайно научих за издаването на тази книга у нас, а темата винаги ми е била много интересна. Както личи от оригиналното заглавие, “Конкистадорите” на Матю Раскал и Фелипе Фернандес-Арместо е само кратко въведение в мащабната и сложна история на завоеванието на Южна Америка от испанците. И ако добре познати са образи като Кортес и Писаро и техните действия, които малко или много са се превърнали в устойчив мит, който не позволява друга гледна точка към събитията, то истината отново се оказва малко или много различна. И в това наглед тънко книжле е събрана много информация, а по-надолу съм извадил няколко представителни цитата, които ме заинтригуваха и смятам, че могат да разпалят и вашия интерес.
Издателство Ашур
http://knigolandia.info/book-review/k...
November 6, 2015
যত দূরেই যাই না কেন, দুর্নিবার এক আকর্ষণ আমাকে বারবার টেনে ফিরিয়ে আনে, আগ্রহ আর ভালোবাসার দুই মেরুর কাছে। রাশিয়া এবং লাতিন আমেরিকা... আবারও তাই হলো।
স্পেনের দিগ্বিজয়ী কংকিস্তাদোরেরা কি করে মাত্র কয়েক দশকের ব্যবধানে আস্ত একটি মহাদেশ গাপ করে ফেলেছিলেন, সেই প্রশ্নের জবাব খুঁজেছেন অধ্যাপক রেস্টল এবং তার গুরু বিখ্যাত ঐতিহাসিক ফেলিপে ফের্নান্দেস-আর্মেস্তো। অভিনব এবং অপ্রত্যাশিত তাদের উত্তর। লেখকদের মতে সাধারণ বিচারে দেশজয় এবং উপনিবেশ স্থাপন বলতে আমরা যা বুঝি, প্রকৃতপক্ষে তার কিছুই নাকি ঘটেনি লাতিন আমেরিকায়! অর্থাৎ এতদিন ধরে ইতিহাস বইয়ে যা ঠাঁই পেয়েছে, তা স্রেফ অতিরঞ্জন, ভুল ব্যাখ্যা আর প্রোপাগান্ডা। কেন, তাও যুক্তি দিয়ে বুঝিয়েছেন দুই পন্ডিত। আর এই ব্যাপারে তাদের বড় সহায় হয়েছে আদিবাসীদের রেখে যাওয়া প্রামাণ্য দলিল। অপরিচিত, অশ্বেতাংগ দৃষ্টিভংগির অসামান্য অবতারণা।
"Strangers [the conquistadors] arrive, with no obvious advantages that might seem to destine them for power. They make themselves useful by virtue of the stranger-effect: their independence from traditional native factionalism makes them ideal in the roles of chiefly bodyguards and elite marriage partners. Their prowess in battle makes them enviable as allies. They exercise the influence of valued arbitrators. Indigenous society welcomes them with hospitality and rewards them with tribute, with services, and ultimately with power. They supply an additional level of leadership, supplementing or substituting or superimposed on traditional elites, rather than entirely displacing existing structures. Their success does not flow from superior weaponry, or horses, or any identifiable intellectual or moral advantage, or from the delusions of natives who mistook them for gods. On the contrary, it springs from well-disposed elements in native culture."
প্রথম দর্শনে খুবই counter-intuitive মনে হলেও শ্বেতাঙ্গ-আদিবাসী মোলাকাতের এই ছিল বাস্তবতা, অন্তত প্রথম একশো বছরের সময়কালে তো অবশ্যই। স্পেনের একচ্ছত্র সামরিক প্রশাসনিক রাজনৈতিক ও অর্থনৈতিক আধিপত্য যদি কখনো এসে থাকে, সেটা এসেছিল আরো অনেক পরে, এবং তাও যতটা "একচ্ছত্র" দেখানো হয়, ততটা আসলে ছিল না কোনদিন। এই ক্ষেত্রে ভারতবর্ষে বৃটিশের আগমনের সাথে লাতিন আমেরিকান উপনিবেশবাদের মিল বা অমিল কোথায়, সেটার তুলনামূলক একটা গবেষণা হাতে পেলে মন্দ হতো না।
অনেক ভাবতে শেখালো বইটি, আর পূর্বপরিচিত অনেক ধ্যানধারণা ভেঙে দিল। এই নিয়ে আরো বিস্তর পড়াশোনার ইচ্ছেটাও চাগিয়ে তুললো। ইতিহাসের বই থেকে এর বেশি আর কি চাই!
স্পেনের দিগ্বিজয়ী কংকিস্তাদোরেরা কি করে মাত্র কয়েক দশকের ব্যবধানে আস্ত একটি মহাদেশ গাপ করে ফেলেছিলেন, সেই প্রশ্নের জবাব খুঁজেছেন অধ্যাপক রেস্টল এবং তার গুরু বিখ্যাত ঐতিহাসিক ফেলিপে ফের্নান্দেস-আর্মেস্তো। অভিনব এবং অপ্রত্যাশিত তাদের উত্তর। লেখকদের মতে সাধারণ বিচারে দেশজয় এবং উপনিবেশ স্থাপন বলতে আমরা যা বুঝি, প্রকৃতপক্ষে তার কিছুই নাকি ঘটেনি লাতিন আমেরিকায়! অর্থাৎ এতদিন ধরে ইতিহাস বইয়ে যা ঠাঁই পেয়েছে, তা স্রেফ অতিরঞ্জন, ভুল ব্যাখ্যা আর প্রোপাগান্ডা। কেন, তাও যুক্তি দিয়ে বুঝিয়েছেন দুই পন্ডিত। আর এই ব্যাপারে তাদের বড় সহায় হয়েছে আদিবাসীদের রেখে যাওয়া প্রামাণ্য দলিল। অপরিচিত, অশ্বেতাংগ দৃষ্টিভংগির অসামান্য অবতারণা।
"Strangers [the conquistadors] arrive, with no obvious advantages that might seem to destine them for power. They make themselves useful by virtue of the stranger-effect: their independence from traditional native factionalism makes them ideal in the roles of chiefly bodyguards and elite marriage partners. Their prowess in battle makes them enviable as allies. They exercise the influence of valued arbitrators. Indigenous society welcomes them with hospitality and rewards them with tribute, with services, and ultimately with power. They supply an additional level of leadership, supplementing or substituting or superimposed on traditional elites, rather than entirely displacing existing structures. Their success does not flow from superior weaponry, or horses, or any identifiable intellectual or moral advantage, or from the delusions of natives who mistook them for gods. On the contrary, it springs from well-disposed elements in native culture."
প্রথম দর্শনে খুবই counter-intuitive মনে হলেও শ্বেতাঙ্গ-আদিবাসী মোলাকাতের এই ছিল বাস্তবতা, অন্তত প্রথম একশো বছরের সময়কালে তো অবশ্যই। স্পেনের একচ্ছত্র সামরিক প্রশাসনিক রাজনৈতিক ও অর্থনৈতিক আধিপত্য যদি কখনো এসে থাকে, সেটা এসেছিল আরো অনেক পরে, এবং তাও যতটা "একচ্ছত্র" দেখানো হয়, ততটা আসলে ছিল না কোনদিন। এই ক্ষেত্রে ভারতবর্ষে বৃটিশের আগমনের সাথে লাতিন আমেরিকান উপনিবেশবাদের মিল বা অমিল কোথায়, সেটার তুলনামূলক একটা গবেষণা হাতে পেলে মন্দ হতো না।
অনেক ভাবতে শেখালো বইটি, আর পূর্বপরিচিত অনেক ধ্যানধারণা ভেঙে দিল। এই নিয়ে আরো বিস্তর পড়াশোনার ইচ্ছেটাও চাগিয়ে তুললো। ইতিহাসের বই থেকে এর বেশি আর কি চাই!
August 16, 2021
Un excelente libro, es corto y conciso, la prosa con que está escrito hace amena su lectura.
Sobre el libro en si, hay que decir que empieza un poco lento, con algunos relatos de los conquistadores, la situación del imperio Mexica e Inca previó a la llegada de los españoles y luego la respectiva conquista de estos pueblos; pero, en estos apartados ya de puede entramar lo que será los argumentos de los autores.
Así pues, es que se hace una excelente descripción de los conquistadores, más allá del mito de su supuesta gran "superioridad". Esto eran más que todo empresarios o emprendedores armados, que buscan la posibilidad de ascenso social en el Nuevo Mundo, eran personas de clase media, que no pertenecían al ejército real, la mayoría eran letrados y jóvenes que venían, casi siempre de las mismas provincias españolas.
Sus atuendos no eran como lo muestran en la pinturas posteriores, dado que el uso de armaduras y casos de acero era poco práctico para el clima caluroso del Nuevo Mundo, el arma más usada fue el sable, las otras armas como lanzas, ballestas y armas de fuego eran poco práctica debido a las condiciones geográficas, lo lejos que estaban de la matropolis para reabastecerse y que las armas de fuego eran muy lentas, lo que hacía que fueran más vulnerable a las flechas indígenas, aunque no por ello impidió que estás ayudarán a mostrar un cierto grado de superioridad.
Igualmente el término de conquistadores, como lo exponen los autores, es muy reducido, para estos deberían a ampliarse a otros actores como mujeres, negros e indios, sobre las primeras estas fueron muy pocas y llegaron a ser conquistadoras tiempo después y en lugares muy remotos, los segundos, fueron personas muy fuertes que llegaron a ser tratados como inferiores pero que tuvieron ciertas comodidades, los últimos son los más importantes, sin ellos jamás se hubiera podido conquistar los grandes imperios.
Es justamente, esto último, en lo que hacen énfasis los autores, ya que refutan muchos mitos, primero no había una superioridad en armas y caballos, estos últimos, eran usados en ocasiones especiales; su moral e inteligencia no eran superiores, estos españoles guiados supuestamente por Dios, no eran grandes eruditos; las enfermeras aunque fueron importantes, muchas veces no coincidieron en los momentos de conflictos, los españoles también fueron afectados por enfermedades tropicales. Es por ello que las alianzas fueron importante, son los intérpretes los que las consiguen, no los españoles.
La conquista, igualmente, es un término muy mal usado para los historiadores del libro, pues aunque si hubiera grandes conflictos entre ambos bandos, no fueron la generalidad. Lo que primo más fueron las alianzas por medio de matrimonios y la hospitalidad que dieron los indios a los recien llegados, los conquistadores aprovecharon está ingenuidad india para dominarlos.
Así el libro termina con conquistadores más tardíos, y abriendo la posibilidad de usar dicho término de un modo más amplió.
En síntesis es un gran libro.
Sobre el libro en si, hay que decir que empieza un poco lento, con algunos relatos de los conquistadores, la situación del imperio Mexica e Inca previó a la llegada de los españoles y luego la respectiva conquista de estos pueblos; pero, en estos apartados ya de puede entramar lo que será los argumentos de los autores.
Así pues, es que se hace una excelente descripción de los conquistadores, más allá del mito de su supuesta gran "superioridad". Esto eran más que todo empresarios o emprendedores armados, que buscan la posibilidad de ascenso social en el Nuevo Mundo, eran personas de clase media, que no pertenecían al ejército real, la mayoría eran letrados y jóvenes que venían, casi siempre de las mismas provincias españolas.
Sus atuendos no eran como lo muestran en la pinturas posteriores, dado que el uso de armaduras y casos de acero era poco práctico para el clima caluroso del Nuevo Mundo, el arma más usada fue el sable, las otras armas como lanzas, ballestas y armas de fuego eran poco práctica debido a las condiciones geográficas, lo lejos que estaban de la matropolis para reabastecerse y que las armas de fuego eran muy lentas, lo que hacía que fueran más vulnerable a las flechas indígenas, aunque no por ello impidió que estás ayudarán a mostrar un cierto grado de superioridad.
Igualmente el término de conquistadores, como lo exponen los autores, es muy reducido, para estos deberían a ampliarse a otros actores como mujeres, negros e indios, sobre las primeras estas fueron muy pocas y llegaron a ser conquistadoras tiempo después y en lugares muy remotos, los segundos, fueron personas muy fuertes que llegaron a ser tratados como inferiores pero que tuvieron ciertas comodidades, los últimos son los más importantes, sin ellos jamás se hubiera podido conquistar los grandes imperios.
Es justamente, esto último, en lo que hacen énfasis los autores, ya que refutan muchos mitos, primero no había una superioridad en armas y caballos, estos últimos, eran usados en ocasiones especiales; su moral e inteligencia no eran superiores, estos españoles guiados supuestamente por Dios, no eran grandes eruditos; las enfermeras aunque fueron importantes, muchas veces no coincidieron en los momentos de conflictos, los españoles también fueron afectados por enfermedades tropicales. Es por ello que las alianzas fueron importante, son los intérpretes los que las consiguen, no los españoles.
La conquista, igualmente, es un término muy mal usado para los historiadores del libro, pues aunque si hubiera grandes conflictos entre ambos bandos, no fueron la generalidad. Lo que primo más fueron las alianzas por medio de matrimonios y la hospitalidad que dieron los indios a los recien llegados, los conquistadores aprovecharon está ingenuidad india para dominarlos.
Así el libro termina con conquistadores más tardíos, y abriendo la posibilidad de usar dicho término de un modo más amplió.
En síntesis es un gran libro.
May 24, 2024
Not really the introduction I was hoping for. Mostly about the conquistadors as people, their motivations and historical context, rather than the actual conquering of the New World. This is not a history of the conquistador wars or battles. The author explains the conquistador’s success as being due to Indian culture, which include the society of the Indians in honoring strangers and the Indian factionalism and lack of larger group identity (most Indians were loyal only to their village rather than the nation). This allowed the Spanish to come in and ally themselves with different groups and play them off each other.
I think those factors definitely came into play, but it seems like that can’t explain everything. If you had placed another group other than the conquistadors there, I don’t know if it would still end with the foreigners conquering the entire New World. The author straw man’s the Spanish by saying it wasn’t their superior equipment or horses but the Native people’s culture that led to their victories, but the Spanish came with other assets, including intangible ones, that I don’t know if they can be so easily dismissed.
I think those factors definitely came into play, but it seems like that can’t explain everything. If you had placed another group other than the conquistadors there, I don’t know if it would still end with the foreigners conquering the entire New World. The author straw man’s the Spanish by saying it wasn’t their superior equipment or horses but the Native people’s culture that led to their victories, but the Spanish came with other assets, including intangible ones, that I don’t know if they can be so easily dismissed.
April 27, 2016
I imagine many people will be frustrated that this is not micro-biographies of individual conquistadors, but more a broad picture sociological profile. If one approaches this book with this in mind, this does built a fairly comprehension picture to what a conquistador actually was. Restal and Fernandez-Armesto do a good job of constructing the context for both Spanish as well as Spanish-cultured African and Native conquistadors. A few myths are debunked along the way as well and individuals are discussed, but mostly for the contrast to the broader model. If taken as an introduction to the concept and context of the conquistadors instead of introductions to specific conquistadors, this book delivers in amble amounts.
September 4, 2017
Excelente.
October 6, 2021
Embora não seja exatamente o objetivo do livro, os autores não apenas narram parte da história dos mais famosos conquistadores, como Cortés e Pizarro, mas também revelam intrigantes trajetórias de personagens mais ou menos relegados às margens da história oficial da conquista espanhola.
Uma delas, Catalina de Erauso, escapou de um convento no País Basco em 1599 e, vestida de homem, viajou para as “índias ocidentais” em 1603. Viveu na América por duas décadas até ser descoberta e enviada de volta à Europa. Lá chegando, foi tratada como uma celebridade internacional e recebida pelo rei da Espanha e pelo Papa.
Os autores também destacam a atuação de conquistadores africanos e nativos na conquista do novo mundo. Pode não ser o melhor exemplo, mas vale mencionar a história de um grupo de escravos negros que naufragou em 1553 próximo à costa do Equador. Afonso de Illescas, líder do grupo, tinha sido escravo em Sevilha, onde se cristianizou e adquiriu “rudimentos” da cultura espanhola. Em alguns meses, ele estabeleceu uma relação privilegiada com o chefe nativo local, casando-se com a sua filha e tornando-se o seu herdeiro. Antes de suceder o chefe nativo, ele e os seus companheiros, que tinham sobrevivido ao naufrágio sem armas e sem suprimentos, ajudaram os locais nas suas guerras contra tribos vizinhas e atuaram como guarda-costas do chefe.
Depois da morte de Afonso de Illescas, o seu território foi dividido em pequenos reinos governados pelos descendentes dos seus capitães. Um dos sucessores, don Francisco de Aroves, foi retratado, em Quito, junto aos seus filhos, pelo pintor Andrés Sanches Gallque, em 1599. Vestidos suntuosamente, no ápice da moda aristocrática, os três oficias ostentavam ornamentos de ouro reservados pelos nativos ao adorno dos seus chefes e à representação pictográfica dos seus deuses. Os reinos sobreviveram e se mantiveram independentes por várias gerações.
O livro, em suma, desfaz alguns mitos construídos pela propaganda imperial espanhola e pelo modelo de análise da conquista da América estabelecido pela historiografia tradicional. A história de Afonso de Illescas e o seu grupo de náufragos não é de forma nenhuma ilustrativa do tipo mais comum de conquistadores que chegaram na América, mas é exemplo do grau de dependência que os conquistadores tiveram do estabelecimento de alianças locais com os nativos. Os autores põem em cheque mesmo a própria evidência de que teria realmente havido uma “conquista”. Não negam, com isso, a extrema violência empregada pelos espanhóis e os seus afiliados na ocupação do novo mundo. Mesmo assim, deslocam para o primeiro plano a ação independente dos nativos, que estabeleceram, por seu turno, as suas próprias alianças com os europeus motivados pela da defesa dos seus interesses locais. Como se sabe, os europeus acabariam por se revelar aliados não muito confiáveis. Grupos tais como os Tlaxcalans, que os ajudaram a destruir o Império Azteca no México, acabariam por perder a autonomia mantida provisoriamente em troca da aliança e, tal como os índios inimigos, seriam escravizados e privados dos seus territórios.
Uma delas, Catalina de Erauso, escapou de um convento no País Basco em 1599 e, vestida de homem, viajou para as “índias ocidentais” em 1603. Viveu na América por duas décadas até ser descoberta e enviada de volta à Europa. Lá chegando, foi tratada como uma celebridade internacional e recebida pelo rei da Espanha e pelo Papa.
Os autores também destacam a atuação de conquistadores africanos e nativos na conquista do novo mundo. Pode não ser o melhor exemplo, mas vale mencionar a história de um grupo de escravos negros que naufragou em 1553 próximo à costa do Equador. Afonso de Illescas, líder do grupo, tinha sido escravo em Sevilha, onde se cristianizou e adquiriu “rudimentos” da cultura espanhola. Em alguns meses, ele estabeleceu uma relação privilegiada com o chefe nativo local, casando-se com a sua filha e tornando-se o seu herdeiro. Antes de suceder o chefe nativo, ele e os seus companheiros, que tinham sobrevivido ao naufrágio sem armas e sem suprimentos, ajudaram os locais nas suas guerras contra tribos vizinhas e atuaram como guarda-costas do chefe.
Depois da morte de Afonso de Illescas, o seu território foi dividido em pequenos reinos governados pelos descendentes dos seus capitães. Um dos sucessores, don Francisco de Aroves, foi retratado, em Quito, junto aos seus filhos, pelo pintor Andrés Sanches Gallque, em 1599. Vestidos suntuosamente, no ápice da moda aristocrática, os três oficias ostentavam ornamentos de ouro reservados pelos nativos ao adorno dos seus chefes e à representação pictográfica dos seus deuses. Os reinos sobreviveram e se mantiveram independentes por várias gerações.
O livro, em suma, desfaz alguns mitos construídos pela propaganda imperial espanhola e pelo modelo de análise da conquista da América estabelecido pela historiografia tradicional. A história de Afonso de Illescas e o seu grupo de náufragos não é de forma nenhuma ilustrativa do tipo mais comum de conquistadores que chegaram na América, mas é exemplo do grau de dependência que os conquistadores tiveram do estabelecimento de alianças locais com os nativos. Os autores põem em cheque mesmo a própria evidência de que teria realmente havido uma “conquista”. Não negam, com isso, a extrema violência empregada pelos espanhóis e os seus afiliados na ocupação do novo mundo. Mesmo assim, deslocam para o primeiro plano a ação independente dos nativos, que estabeleceram, por seu turno, as suas próprias alianças com os europeus motivados pela da defesa dos seus interesses locais. Como se sabe, os europeus acabariam por se revelar aliados não muito confiáveis. Grupos tais como os Tlaxcalans, que os ajudaram a destruir o Império Azteca no México, acabariam por perder a autonomia mantida provisoriamente em troca da aliança e, tal como os índios inimigos, seriam escravizados e privados dos seus territórios.
May 2, 2022
'The Conquistadors: A Very Short Introduction' is a very short, pocket-sized book that manages to condense an entire era of history that is important to understand Spanish history and the history of the Americas. It contains a lot of information I previously did not even know or even think possible and that's what makes this magical.
It debunks a lot of myths surrounding the conquest of the Americas, especially the 'superiority' of the Conquistadors and the Spanish. It describes the mechanisms used and exploited to create one of the largest empires in history in precise detail. Although a bit slow at times, you do not fail to learn while reading this.
It has plenty of sources, all available for further in-depth reading on this topic. It is easy to understand and can be read in less than two hours. I'd recommend this to anyone who wants to learn about the age of exploration and the beginning of the Spanish Empire.
It debunks a lot of myths surrounding the conquest of the Americas, especially the 'superiority' of the Conquistadors and the Spanish. It describes the mechanisms used and exploited to create one of the largest empires in history in precise detail. Although a bit slow at times, you do not fail to learn while reading this.
It has plenty of sources, all available for further in-depth reading on this topic. It is easy to understand and can be read in less than two hours. I'd recommend this to anyone who wants to learn about the age of exploration and the beginning of the Spanish Empire.
June 21, 2026
No es un libro que narre y describa cómo fue la conquista de las Américas, sino que se centra en la figura de los conquistadores desde un plano más personal. A medida que avanzas, comprendes que la mayoría de los conquistadores estaba formada por inversores, empresarios y ciudadanos con cierto manejo de las armas, pero que, bajo ningún concepto, se trataba de incursiones de soldados del ejército real a las órdenes del rey. La competencia entre conquistadores, las exageraciones de sus triunfos para ganarse el favor real y las grandes penurias de muchos de ellos son solo algunos de los aspectos que aborda el libro. En resumidas cuentas, una lectura muy interesante para conocer un poco más de nuestra historia y evitar debates rosalegendarios y negrolegendarios.
May 19, 2021
A nice, and VERY NEEDED introduction to the world of the conquistadors. All the subjects of the book could have had more detail, but there are other books digging deeper into these subjects, of course. It's very much appreciated the addition of the mostly unknown black and indigenous conquistadors, since plenty of people believe the American continent was a field of peace, roses, and hippie before the arrival of the Spaniards. Recommended for anyone.
January 14, 2024
Really interesting! I think we all remember some of the names from sixth grade history, but never got the full stories behind who they were and why they came to the Americas. The deception, desperation, and doubt behind some of the biggest conquistadors helps humanize these historic figures. The author does a great job placing these men in the broader history of Spain and the western world as a whole.
March 29, 2024
Very readable and pretty approachable, though I think a few more maps might've been valuable and the image quality in the book wasn't ideal. My primary critique is that it could've been both longer and more in-depth, but I know that's decidedly against the idea of Oxford's Very Short Introduction series. Overall a solid primer that raises more questions than it answers, but again, that's generally the function of these books.
February 2, 2026
Never really appreciated how big this topic is and just how little I really knew of it. Even the basics, like that they never wore the iconic armour, and that most of the conquest of the Americas was really done by different native tribes against eachother was super interesting. Really interesting and enlightening read, but a lot of characters and regions and names and dates to remember. Did a decent job but could have found a way to make it a bit more intuitive with the structure.
January 17, 2017
Un trabajo excepcional que desmitifica la figura del conquistador y lo trae al siglo XXI con un trato sobrio y con buenos acercamientos a su obra y figura, con muy buenos ejemplos, disertaciones y que, aunque le falte mucha más información y datos sobre la Conquista, el mismo título lo advierte, es una breve introducción. Supera con creces las expectativas de ser algo breve.
June 18, 2025
The subject matter might be interesting, but I just can't stay engaged when the book is so poorly organized. I need way more roadmapping and signposting. Instead, it feels like a complete stream of consciousness. The problem is compounded by the fact that the author--without any roadmapping or signposting--often presents a hypothesis only to explain why it's wrong later.
December 8, 2021
First two chapters were excruciatingly boring, but after that it really picked up and I thought it was very interesting from there onwards. Really helped me understand the conquistadors and their motives a lot better.
February 20, 2026
I really enjoyed this one. It answered a lot of questions and filled in a lot of gaps that I had with respect to the Spanish invasion of Mesoamerica and South America. The book is packed with a ton of stories and analysis for being so short. Excellent read.
May 21, 2026
An insightful, and fairly concise, introduction on conquistador culture and the myths surrounding their success in the New World. People interested in the topic will have no shortage of things to annotate.
November 27, 2019
Restall and Armesto tackle the complicated history of the Conquistadors, who have oscillated in history between heroes and villains.
June 22, 2021
Great read! A nice overview of the Conquistadors and the colonization of the Americas.
July 15, 2022
Bff buenísimo
October 1, 2022
Muy bueno.
Una pequeña síntesis de los conquistadores y las preguntas que han estado ahí en el aire de la conquista/invasión de América.
Una pequeña síntesis de los conquistadores y las preguntas que han estado ahí en el aire de la conquista/invasión de América.
February 19, 2026
Very well written. Great insight on this subject.
May 29, 2026
Very nicely done. I especially enjoyed the chapter debunking some of the common theories of why the conquest of New Spain and Peru was so successful.
June 24, 2023
Very informative. It provides a lot of new interesting information and also dispels some of the popular myths we hear about conquistadors. A very good introduction to a topic I’m excited to read more about
April 25, 2013
A useful introduction to the subject. I felt it desparately needed more maps and a bit more description of what actually happened. However, I appreciated the authors' efforts to educate me on the nature of the men (amd women) involved and to explode some myths about why they were successful.
January 8, 2017
Balancing brevity and coverage decently
Lives up to the "very short" part of the title. Interesting, but lacking citations, which is frustrating for a Wikipedian - hard to follow up on interesting or questionable details.
Lives up to the "very short" part of the title. Interesting, but lacking citations, which is frustrating for a Wikipedian - hard to follow up on interesting or questionable details.
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August 2, 2017These short introductions are wonderful
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