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Spanish Empire #2
El Imperio español de Carlos V (1522-1558) y la conquista de América
El enigmático Carlos V, emperador de Europa y el Nuevo Mundo, es la fi gura central en torno a la que gira el monumental estudio de la gran historia del Imperio español que Hugh Thomas comenzó a narrar con gran éxito en su obra El imperio español. Este volumen comienza en 1522 con el regreso de los restos de la expedición de Magallanes y termina con la muerte de Carlos V en 1558. Entre esos años, los españoles conquistan Guatemala, Yucatán, Colombia, Venezuela, Perú y Chile, y controlan ambos lados del poderoso Río de la Plata.
Con su habitual estilo colorido y detallista, Thomas transporta al lector a la época de los conquistadores, quienes apenas lograban creer el alcance de sus hazañas. El descubrimiento y posterior dominio y subyugación de todos estos pueblos indígenas levantaron una enorme polémica en España. Gobernantes y gobernados se empezaron a preguntar cómo deberían ser tratados y cuál era el papel de la Metrópoli en las nuevas tierras, debate que Thomas explora con gran perspicacia, y buen ojo para narrar problemas que han perdurado varios siglos.
Con su habitual estilo colorido y detallista, Thomas transporta al lector a la época de los conquistadores, quienes apenas lograban creer el alcance de sus hazañas. El descubrimiento y posterior dominio y subyugación de todos estos pueblos indígenas levantaron una enorme polémica en España. Gobernantes y gobernados se empezaron a preguntar cómo deberían ser tratados y cuál era el papel de la Metrópoli en las nuevas tierras, debate que Thomas explora con gran perspicacia, y buen ojo para narrar problemas que han perdurado varios siglos.
748 pages, Hardcover
First published November 23, 2010
66 people are currently reading
829 people want to read
About the author
Hugh Thomas
178 books161 followersLibrarian’s note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Hugh Swynnerton Thomas, Baron Thomas of Swynnerton, was a British historian and Hispanist.
Thomas was educated at Sherborne School in Dorset before taking a BA in 1953 at Queens' College, Cambridge. He also studied at the Sorbonne in Paris. His 1961 book The Spanish Civil War won the Somerset Maugham Award for 1962. A significantly revised and enlarged third edition was published in 1977. Cuba, or the Pursuit of Freedom (1971) is a book of over 1,500 pages tracing the history of Cuba from Spanish colonial rule until the Cuban Revolution. Thomas spent 10 years researching the contents of this book.
Thomas was married to the former Vanessa Jebb, daughter of the first Acting United Nations Secretary-General Gladwyn Jebb.
From 1966 to 1975 Thomas was Professor of History at the University of Reading. He was Director of the Centre for Policy Studies in London from 1979 to 1991, as an ally of Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. He became a life peer as Baron Thomas of Swynnerton, of Notting Hill in Greater London in letters patent dated 16 June 1981. He has written pro-European political works, as well as histories. He is also the author of three novels.
Thomas's The Slave Trade: The Story of the Atlantic Slave Trade, 1440-1870 "begins with the first Portuguese slaving expeditions, before Columbus's voyage to the New World, and ends with the last gasp of the slave trade, long since made illegal elsewhere, in Cuba and Brazil, twenty-five years after the American Emancipation Proclamation," according to the summary on the book jacket.
Thomas should not be confused with two other historical writers: W. Hugh Thomas writes about Nazi Germany and Hugh M. Thomas is an American who writes on English history.
Hugh Swynnerton Thomas, Baron Thomas of Swynnerton, was a British historian and Hispanist.
Thomas was educated at Sherborne School in Dorset before taking a BA in 1953 at Queens' College, Cambridge. He also studied at the Sorbonne in Paris. His 1961 book The Spanish Civil War won the Somerset Maugham Award for 1962. A significantly revised and enlarged third edition was published in 1977. Cuba, or the Pursuit of Freedom (1971) is a book of over 1,500 pages tracing the history of Cuba from Spanish colonial rule until the Cuban Revolution. Thomas spent 10 years researching the contents of this book.
Thomas was married to the former Vanessa Jebb, daughter of the first Acting United Nations Secretary-General Gladwyn Jebb.
From 1966 to 1975 Thomas was Professor of History at the University of Reading. He was Director of the Centre for Policy Studies in London from 1979 to 1991, as an ally of Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. He became a life peer as Baron Thomas of Swynnerton, of Notting Hill in Greater London in letters patent dated 16 June 1981. He has written pro-European political works, as well as histories. He is also the author of three novels.
Thomas's The Slave Trade: The Story of the Atlantic Slave Trade, 1440-1870 "begins with the first Portuguese slaving expeditions, before Columbus's voyage to the New World, and ends with the last gasp of the slave trade, long since made illegal elsewhere, in Cuba and Brazil, twenty-five years after the American Emancipation Proclamation," according to the summary on the book jacket.
Thomas should not be confused with two other historical writers: W. Hugh Thomas writes about Nazi Germany and Hugh M. Thomas is an American who writes on English history.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
January 28, 2018
Names, names, names, more names, more names, and yet more names.
I gave up at page 101. I almost never fail to finish a book, but this one I found just too tedious. There is a certain poetry to these resonant Spanish names, of conquistadors, noblemen, soldiers, priests, administrators and royalty. That doesn't excuse trying to mention everyone who was someone in 16th century Spain, the Spanish colonies, and thereabouts. Usually with the shortest of potted biographies - ranging from one sentence to two adverbs. As if that tells us something about these people; and as if we are supposed to believe that the author really knows enough to make that kind of judgment about them.
The saying that applies here is "not being able to see the forest because of the trees." Good elements of an informative, even gripping history are there, but they are buried between the pages of a renaissance telephone book. This veers towards history at its dullest, history as enumeration and recitation. If the author had resisted the temptation to dump his entire database on paper, this probably would have been an excellent book, at half the length.
Maybe it improves further along the road. I hope so. But I lack the courage to embark on another 425 pages of this.
I gave up at page 101. I almost never fail to finish a book, but this one I found just too tedious. There is a certain poetry to these resonant Spanish names, of conquistadors, noblemen, soldiers, priests, administrators and royalty. That doesn't excuse trying to mention everyone who was someone in 16th century Spain, the Spanish colonies, and thereabouts. Usually with the shortest of potted biographies - ranging from one sentence to two adverbs. As if that tells us something about these people; and as if we are supposed to believe that the author really knows enough to make that kind of judgment about them.
The saying that applies here is "not being able to see the forest because of the trees." Good elements of an informative, even gripping history are there, but they are buried between the pages of a renaissance telephone book. This veers towards history at its dullest, history as enumeration and recitation. If the author had resisted the temptation to dump his entire database on paper, this probably would have been an excellent book, at half the length.
Maybe it improves further along the road. I hope so. But I lack the courage to embark on another 425 pages of this.
August 16, 2013
This is an excellent example of a book where the author has probably spent half of his life digging through archives to find the most interesting encounters about grandiose historical events in order to write this immensely boring book. It sounds almost unbelievable but it is possible to fill 800 pages with never ending namedropping in the context of post Renaissance Spain - who was related to whom and from which village in Extremadura was this or that character - whereas the events are supposed to take place in the Americas. Nevertheless, if the reader can overlook and overcome these nuisances the book (which could have easily been much thinner) contains some very interesting notifications. We can deduct that not too much has changed on European economical and political scene over the past 500 years: the Spanish extravagances are still financed by the German bankers and while the Europeans quarrel amongst themselves over artificial issues the rest of the world is smoothly moving forward.
August 12, 2017
Published in 2010, this was the second in Thomas' massive trilogy on the Spanish Empire, which he completed shortly before his death in May of this year. While I admire his scholarship and his prolific output, I did find myself wishing as I was reading it that Thomas had cut down on some of the descriptive details (the name of a certain conquistador is often followed by a list of what town he was from in Extremadura or Andalusia, whose distant cousin so-and-so was, when they first arrived in the Indies and what they had accomplished up until that point, etc.) In addition to the wish for conciseness, I can't help but wish that he had devoted fewer words to narrative, swashbuckling as it is, and more to analysis. The book also suffers, I feel, from his chosen structure of going back and forth between Charles V's perambulations throughout his vast European possessions and those of the journeys of discovery, exploration and subjugation of the American lands by the various conquistadors and would-be conquistadors. It is also hard to keep track of the chronology at times as Thomas jumps all over the map (literally) and one chapter may take you back ten, fifteen or even twenty years prior to the events of the previous chapter, at a different part of the Spanish Empire. In spite of all these criticisms, for the person already at least somewhat familiar with Charles V and the Spanish Empire from 1521-1558 and with plenty of time on their hands, this is at times an interesting read, but perhaps one that you might want to pick and choose from depending on the reader's interests and patience.
June 2, 2017
Awesome... but annoying.
Thomas' magisterial effort is peppered with consistent flaws. First, he delves into great detail for almost every new individual he introduces, creating myriad micro-detours that take away from the narrative. It seems as though he's trying to show off what he knows, rather than tell the story. This could be solved with more endnotes, or perhaps a dramatis personae section. Likewise, the book could benefit from timelines to keep track of the numerous threads. Finally, it is redundant at times; for example, we are told on multiple instances that Pedro de Candia was a large Greek artillery specialist. We got it the first time.
But what a narrative it is. Thomas goes into "beast mode" in his intricately detailed, gripping descriptions of events such as: the conquest of, and internecine wars in, Peru; Indian rebellions in Mexico, Yucatan, and Chile; the nearly immortal Las Casas and his advocacy for Indians; Orellana's odyssey; explorations into the South American interior; and, in my view, one of history's "baddest men alive" - Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca. Best of all, Thomas ties events in the Americas with deep descriptions of wars in Italy and Germany, as well as Spains' conquest of Tunis and misadventure in Algiers -- all funded through American gold.
Overall, it could use more editing -- but well done! I look forward to the third volume.
Thomas' magisterial effort is peppered with consistent flaws. First, he delves into great detail for almost every new individual he introduces, creating myriad micro-detours that take away from the narrative. It seems as though he's trying to show off what he knows, rather than tell the story. This could be solved with more endnotes, or perhaps a dramatis personae section. Likewise, the book could benefit from timelines to keep track of the numerous threads. Finally, it is redundant at times; for example, we are told on multiple instances that Pedro de Candia was a large Greek artillery specialist. We got it the first time.
But what a narrative it is. Thomas goes into "beast mode" in his intricately detailed, gripping descriptions of events such as: the conquest of, and internecine wars in, Peru; Indian rebellions in Mexico, Yucatan, and Chile; the nearly immortal Las Casas and his advocacy for Indians; Orellana's odyssey; explorations into the South American interior; and, in my view, one of history's "baddest men alive" - Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca. Best of all, Thomas ties events in the Americas with deep descriptions of wars in Italy and Germany, as well as Spains' conquest of Tunis and misadventure in Algiers -- all funded through American gold.
Overall, it could use more editing -- but well done! I look forward to the third volume.
May 11, 2020
“The Golden Empire: Spain, Charles V, and the Creation of America” by Hugh Thomas isn’t a book about Spain. :)
Yes, it covers the 16 century – the heyday of the Spanish Empire, and mentions some things happened in the court of Charles V of Habsburg. But the book focuses on the conquest of what later became Latin America.
So you expect one from the book, but you get a little different. ;) But despite this, it was really interesting for me to read about the Spanish conquest of Peru and Chile, the Yucatan Peninsula, the territories of modern Venezuela, Colombia and Guatemala, expeditions around the Amazon, to the lands of Argentina and Paraguay, as well as exploration to the north: where now Florida, Texas, California, even the Grand Canyon! And, of course, it's about the arrangement after the Conquista of New Spain – Mexico.
It’s felt that the author has deeply explored this topic.
Personally, I was a little embarrassed by the first 200 pages, when I was getting used to the style of H. Thomas and his habit of describing all the recognized through time members of the expedition in the context of which province they came from, up to their grandfathers and their activities. For instance, after such information about 20 participants in a row, a mess of surnames was forming in my head.
But the story of the expeditions themselves and their organization fascinated me.
Yes, it covers the 16 century – the heyday of the Spanish Empire, and mentions some things happened in the court of Charles V of Habsburg. But the book focuses on the conquest of what later became Latin America.
So you expect one from the book, but you get a little different. ;) But despite this, it was really interesting for me to read about the Spanish conquest of Peru and Chile, the Yucatan Peninsula, the territories of modern Venezuela, Colombia and Guatemala, expeditions around the Amazon, to the lands of Argentina and Paraguay, as well as exploration to the north: where now Florida, Texas, California, even the Grand Canyon! And, of course, it's about the arrangement after the Conquista of New Spain – Mexico.
It’s felt that the author has deeply explored this topic.
Personally, I was a little embarrassed by the first 200 pages, when I was getting used to the style of H. Thomas and his habit of describing all the recognized through time members of the expedition in the context of which province they came from, up to their grandfathers and their activities. For instance, after such information about 20 participants in a row, a mess of surnames was forming in my head.
But the story of the expeditions themselves and their organization fascinated me.
October 19, 2025
This is another book from Hugh Thomas. I was lucky enough to find this book and a previously read one about the conquest of Mexico at my local used bookstore for a dollar each. I had been wanting to learn more about Central and South America, and I was excited about these purchases. I am going to look for other books by this author, who is a renowned Spanish historian. If you are into this particular niche of history, I strongly recommend checking out this author if you have not done so. His work is thorough and not dry to read.
This book takes a look at King Charles V, who sent Cortes and others to explore and conquer lands that he believed were rich with gold and other resources. The last book I read focused heavily on Cortes, but this one discusses multiple explorers and the atrocities they committed against the Indigenous populations overseas.
This book takes a look at King Charles V, who sent Cortes and others to explore and conquer lands that he believed were rich with gold and other resources. The last book I read focused heavily on Cortes, but this one discusses multiple explorers and the atrocities they committed against the Indigenous populations overseas.
June 30, 2017
I began reading The Golden Empire in February after we decided to take our family vacation in Spain this June. I always enjoy learning a bit of history related to any part of the globe I visit, and ironically noticed the Kindle version of this book on our library website. Fittingly, I finished the book during the flight to Barcelona which began our wonderful vacation.
The Golden Empire is a very large and thorough account of the Spanish conquest of America during the reign of Holy Roman Emperor Carlos V (AKA Carlos I of Spain or Charles V). Thus, it leaves out the adventures of Columbus during the reign of Ferdinand and Isabel as well as the beginning of the demise of the Spanish empire led by his son Phillip II.
The book is quite interesting, though long. A person who truly enjoys consuming historical details will enjoy the book. Those who prefer a "story" mixed in with historical accounts may be a bit disappointed. Naturally, the saga of Spain's conquest is filled with interesting drama, but this book does not have the flow which many books by authors such as Stephen Ambrose have.
I enjoyed reading The Golden Empire since Mr. Thomas does an excellent job of avoiding politically charged statements and instead lets the citations, letters, etc. tell the story. He neither praises or condemns Spanish explorers. He is fair in pointing out the misdeeds of many of the conquistadors, and the attempts of the monarchy and portions of the clergy in rectifying injustices. For example, as news of abuses related to encomiendas found their way to the royal court, Charles and other leaders attempted to enact reforms.
The astute reader will rightly note that these reforms were very difficult to enforce, as were many other regulations and taxes Charles and his court attempted to impose. Via many of these stories, The Golden Empire does an excellent job in illustrating the difficulties in managing a global empire at a time when communication was relatively slow.
In addition to covering the conquest of America, The Golden Empire provides insights into the counter-reformation and other events happening in Europe which directly affected Spain's finances, and therefore indirectly affected the Americas. For example, would the avoidance of unnecessary war have reduced the pressure to exhume more and more gold from the Americas? Naturally history is history, so we will never know what could have happened.
Ultimately, I give the book 4 out of 5 stars. It is very interesting and thought provoking, but loses 1 star as it could have been more succinct. Some readers may be intimidated or bored by the details. I am not qualified to review whether or not Thomas is accurate in his points, or that his citations are valid. Assuming he is, I think the reader will learn a great deal from picking up this book. It certainly added interest to many of the historical sites we visited in Sevilla and Toledo during our visit to Spain. The Golden Empire is definitely worth a read.
The Golden Empire is a very large and thorough account of the Spanish conquest of America during the reign of Holy Roman Emperor Carlos V (AKA Carlos I of Spain or Charles V). Thus, it leaves out the adventures of Columbus during the reign of Ferdinand and Isabel as well as the beginning of the demise of the Spanish empire led by his son Phillip II.
The book is quite interesting, though long. A person who truly enjoys consuming historical details will enjoy the book. Those who prefer a "story" mixed in with historical accounts may be a bit disappointed. Naturally, the saga of Spain's conquest is filled with interesting drama, but this book does not have the flow which many books by authors such as Stephen Ambrose have.
I enjoyed reading The Golden Empire since Mr. Thomas does an excellent job of avoiding politically charged statements and instead lets the citations, letters, etc. tell the story. He neither praises or condemns Spanish explorers. He is fair in pointing out the misdeeds of many of the conquistadors, and the attempts of the monarchy and portions of the clergy in rectifying injustices. For example, as news of abuses related to encomiendas found their way to the royal court, Charles and other leaders attempted to enact reforms.
The astute reader will rightly note that these reforms were very difficult to enforce, as were many other regulations and taxes Charles and his court attempted to impose. Via many of these stories, The Golden Empire does an excellent job in illustrating the difficulties in managing a global empire at a time when communication was relatively slow.
In addition to covering the conquest of America, The Golden Empire provides insights into the counter-reformation and other events happening in Europe which directly affected Spain's finances, and therefore indirectly affected the Americas. For example, would the avoidance of unnecessary war have reduced the pressure to exhume more and more gold from the Americas? Naturally history is history, so we will never know what could have happened.
Ultimately, I give the book 4 out of 5 stars. It is very interesting and thought provoking, but loses 1 star as it could have been more succinct. Some readers may be intimidated or bored by the details. I am not qualified to review whether or not Thomas is accurate in his points, or that his citations are valid. Assuming he is, I think the reader will learn a great deal from picking up this book. It certainly added interest to many of the historical sites we visited in Sevilla and Toledo during our visit to Spain. The Golden Empire is definitely worth a read.
January 17, 2021
Taking off right on the aftermath of Hernan Cortes’ successful conquest of the Aztecs, the Spanish set out to expand their rule in America. Various conquistadors set out to all directions possible, searching for gold and exotic, legendary places, spreading Christianity and claim the glory for both them and King-Emperor Charles V, one of the greatest monarchs in history. I found that, after Cortes and his Aztec conquest, the most successful expedition would be the Pizzaros, claiming riches of Peru for Charles’ need to crush both heathens and heretics in Europe. Although, I found that Cabeza de Vaca’s expedition of Northern America would be one of the most interesting in the book. By the end of story, Charles ended up with territory that extended from California to Florida, and from Colorado to Chile, added up to his already large collection of territories owned in Europe.
However, this story was not only of Charles and conquistadors. There were also courtiers, advisers, viceroys, bureaucrats, natives, and most important, the humanists, who sought to treat the indians in an enlightened way, long before the age of enlightenment arrived, led by Bartolome de Las Casas, who reemerged from his self-imposed exile caused by his disappointment experienced in the first boom. Although, it came within limitations of time (the indians were forced into perpetual and hereditary serfdom instead), and unfortunately the black africans bore most of the brunt of slavery. Throughout this book, we could see how the Spanish tenaciously expanded into territories that no Europeans have ever walked before, while trying to administrate a vast territory with very limited resources. Meanwhile, Charles, being a monarch of a large empire, busied himself with endless wars, in effect making the Indies his cash cow, and leaving its administrations to the hands of viceroys, governors and administrators, who often had their own agendas.
Although the book is quite large, it is written in short chapters, making every chapter quite interesting to follow through. However, just like many of books written by the author, it was filled with numerous names to remember, making me repeatedly think: “who was he again?”, a quite tedious experience, which fortunately, did not disturb me too much in enjoying this book.
However, this story was not only of Charles and conquistadors. There were also courtiers, advisers, viceroys, bureaucrats, natives, and most important, the humanists, who sought to treat the indians in an enlightened way, long before the age of enlightenment arrived, led by Bartolome de Las Casas, who reemerged from his self-imposed exile caused by his disappointment experienced in the first boom. Although, it came within limitations of time (the indians were forced into perpetual and hereditary serfdom instead), and unfortunately the black africans bore most of the brunt of slavery. Throughout this book, we could see how the Spanish tenaciously expanded into territories that no Europeans have ever walked before, while trying to administrate a vast territory with very limited resources. Meanwhile, Charles, being a monarch of a large empire, busied himself with endless wars, in effect making the Indies his cash cow, and leaving its administrations to the hands of viceroys, governors and administrators, who often had their own agendas.
Although the book is quite large, it is written in short chapters, making every chapter quite interesting to follow through. However, just like many of books written by the author, it was filled with numerous names to remember, making me repeatedly think: “who was he again?”, a quite tedious experience, which fortunately, did not disturb me too much in enjoying this book.
November 23, 2023
The Golden Empire is a fairly straightforward chronology of the Spanish exploration and conquest of the Americas. Although the book is ostensibly about the globe-spanning empire of Charles V, the author makes minimal attempts to connect him with the actual creation, organization, and administration of the Americas, except perhaps in the final sections of the book and then only obliquely. There's a dizzying array of names, locations, and battles mentioned here, all of which make for a rousing and dramatic tale of greed, betrayal, and cruelty, but there's no real analysis of the subject matter, and the chronic name-dropping of every minor figure on the periphery of this story becomes just a bit too much at some point. Even the section entitled "Counter Reformation, Counter Renaissance" is just another chronology of the American conquests and barely mentions the reformation at all. Charles V is almost superfluous to the entire enterprise, too busy with events in Europe to cast his stern gaze upon the chaotic and disorderly conduct of the conquistadors ostensibly under his command. Overall, while there are a few glimmers of interesting ideas buried here (such as the attempt by judge Vasco de Quiroga to institute Thomas More's Utopia in New Spain), the author largely ignores the intriguing story of the relationship between Charles and his burgeoning colonial empire. A missed opportunity.
August 5, 2023
A very broad history of Spanish exploration and colonization during the mid 16th century.
Filled with some very interesting stories. Particularly fascinating to me were the "guy who is about as lost as one can get" stories: Cabeza de Vaca wandering throughout what is the southern United States and northern Mexico and Francisco de Orellana accidentally navigating what would become the Amazon. Filled also with grotesquely impressive brutal accounts of the conquistador's engagement with the native groups. The relation of the conquistadors, the church, and the crown to each other was interesting if not always clear who exactly held literal or figurative power.
Like others mention though it gets bogged down with probably 1,000 characters, the vast majority of whom appear and disappear in the same instance. Just to make it more exhaustive he often names many of these completely forgettable people's parents to make sure you're falling asleep.
Filled with some very interesting stories. Particularly fascinating to me were the "guy who is about as lost as one can get" stories: Cabeza de Vaca wandering throughout what is the southern United States and northern Mexico and Francisco de Orellana accidentally navigating what would become the Amazon. Filled also with grotesquely impressive brutal accounts of the conquistador's engagement with the native groups. The relation of the conquistadors, the church, and the crown to each other was interesting if not always clear who exactly held literal or figurative power.
Like others mention though it gets bogged down with probably 1,000 characters, the vast majority of whom appear and disappear in the same instance. Just to make it more exhaustive he often names many of these completely forgettable people's parents to make sure you're falling asleep.
February 9, 2019
Casi no hay reseñas de este libro, mucho menos en español. Más que un libro parece un compilatorio de pequeños "ensayos", de años de trabajo. Advierto a los lectores que este libro trata un 85% sobre América y no sobre el imperio europeo de Carlos V, mucho menos de su propia vida. Thomas que muestra más preocupación por nombres y movimientos de conquistadores, carece (y esto lo hace tedioso y repetitivo) o parece carecer de muy pocas ideas propias y de capacidad narrativa, si bien se luce en algunas partes, las de Cabeza de Vaca y Pedro de Valdivia. Los amantes de la historia se verán un poco defraudados, sirve más como guía que como documento historiográfico y un gran gran gran catálogo de nombres de funcionarios coloniales.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 11, 2020
Somewhat late in life I've "discovered" Latin America and so have been looking for good general histories of the Spanish Conquest period.
While I found much in this (and its companion books) of great interest, in the end the entire series was thoroughly unsatisfying. Clearly the author is an expert in this field but these books would have benefited from an entirely more critical editing process. Finding the narrative and larger story in the midst of excessive pedantic details just becomes a hard slog.
While I found much in this (and its companion books) of great interest, in the end the entire series was thoroughly unsatisfying. Clearly the author is an expert in this field but these books would have benefited from an entirely more critical editing process. Finding the narrative and larger story in the midst of excessive pedantic details just becomes a hard slog.
Read
August 10, 2024DNF @ 10%.
The worst kind of historical writing: more a compendium of research notes. Pointless details like the name of who designed some random church in a Spanish town. Untranslated Latin. Historians are supposed to sieve, be choiceful, craft a narrative that makes some sort of sense of all these facts. This is what happens when a writer embraces “write for yourself” and forgets the audience; who is this book for? A failure.
The worst kind of historical writing: more a compendium of research notes. Pointless details like the name of who designed some random church in a Spanish town. Untranslated Latin. Historians are supposed to sieve, be choiceful, craft a narrative that makes some sort of sense of all these facts. This is what happens when a writer embraces “write for yourself” and forgets the audience; who is this book for? A failure.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 23, 2022
As other reviewers have remarked, the absolute preponderance of names, names, names bogs down this work. Better understood as a compilation of vignettes about certain regions, conquistadors, and personalities, "The Golden Empire" is best when it is referencing primary sources to build a narrative, and worst when it is discursively recounting the names of a minor actors, seemingly for no purpose.
May 18, 2023
A great book
It is simply a marvel that Hugh Thomas should manage to convey so much in a text that flows well and is interesting to read.
I can not imagine a better balance between attention to detail and a narration that flows so naturally.
Well done!
It is simply a marvel that Hugh Thomas should manage to convey so much in a text that flows well and is interesting to read.
I can not imagine a better balance between attention to detail and a narration that flows so naturally.
Well done!
January 26, 2021
An excellent book describing the creation of the Spanish Empire during the time of Charles V. Easy to read and loaded with historical facts. A must read for people interested in the subject.
January 21, 2023
Epic tales of Visigoths going on adventures, kicking butts, and doing other cool things.
August 3, 2024
ძალიან დეტალური, ძალიან მოსაწყენი vol.2
February 24, 2023
Recently realized that I didn't write anything about this excellent book. It covers a ton of great information about the "second phase" of the conquest of the Americas. It picks up right after the Aztecs (Mexica) have been defeated and Spain needs to install government and rule over the indigenous peoples. The barbarity of battle and of the natives comes to life. He covers a lot of politics, exploration, trade, personal interactions and governance throughout the period. Cortes, Pizzarro, Soto and few others come to life on the pages of this 'story'. The conquest of Peru was quite eye opening and educational. I really liked this historical novel that covers the period of Spain at the height of their empire.
November 8, 2022
This is the second volume by Hugh Thomas, on the history of the Spanish Empire. Thomas covers the time period 1521 to 1580 encompassing events in Old Spain, Europe, and New Spain. Thomas focuses on the new Spanish empire including North America, Central America, and South American events. While these stories are not new, Thomas is able to provided background, depth, and detail that makes the people and places come alive. The politics of Charles V and the Catholic Church permeates the events in New Spain as well. While the purposes of the Spaniards is “gold, God, and glory”, Thomas also explains the conflict of this mission between Charles V, the Pope and the various sects within the Catholic Church. Certainly, conflicts emerged in New Spain between Spaniard explorers (conquistadors) and their desire for wealth, land, and power. One family that stands out are the four Pizarro brothers. While apt military leaders and at times ruthless, they were somewhat failures as administrators which led to jealousies, conflict, and death for three of the brothers. Thomas retells great stories of courage but also atrocities committed by the Spaniards. Thomas completes the book in Spain where the national debate is about the justice of making war against the Indians and thus the future relationship with the natives in New Spain. The debate is led by Sepulveda and Las Casas. Sepulveda argues for the legality of conquest and that harsh treatment is necessary while Las Casas argues that Indians have souls and need to be treated humanely. Amazingly, “the State founded on sheer crime is compelled in the course of time to develop a kind justice and morality, since those of its citizens who are just and moral gradually get the upper hand.” The book ends in Europe with the death of Charles V with his son Phillip II becoming the Spanish King who inherits the New Spanish Empire. This story will continue in volume three of the trilogy. A book well written and thus a good read.
June 4, 2011
Thomas's second book on the conquest of the 'Indies' focuses on the expansion of Spain's dominion under the ambitious and warlike Emperor Charles. After the initial discoveries of Columbus and Vespucci, it was Charles who unleashed the full might and cruelty of Spain against the Aztec (more appropriately, Mexica) and Inca empires. The book covers ground that has been covered before - notably by John Hemming - and roots that story consistently back into what is happening in Europe, where Charles is no less anxious to extend and consolidate his empire. If the conquistadores are therefore painted much more fully by Thomas than their long-suffering victims, this is perhaps because he wants to present his historical series very much from a Spanish perspective. I found it useful to look again at Albulafia's book 'The Discovery of Mankind' for a more balanced view of the interaction between 'discoverers' and 'discovered'. Nevertheless, as a consolidated study of the main periods of imperial expansion by Spain in new continents, it is going to be difficult to surpass Thomas's trilogy once the final book appears.
March 20, 2013
This book is full of information, but I felt that it is written in the style of an encyclopedia. Content is very rich, but for my taste the style in which it is written is not fluid enough. To know what happen you first have to read the names of everyone involved, including some that are sometimes not mentioned again, but also where were they from, and some extra information for each one of them. I found this too much to be included in the main text. I would rather read it as foot notes, or maybe even as an appendix at the end of the book. This bunches of text made often the reading rather heavy. In addition I found a few mistakes, most notoriously to mention that Coatzacoalcos is in the Caribbean, which is certainly not and rather far from it. It contains very useful appendixes that includes maps of cities, routes and territories.
September 17, 2012
This book was very informative an highly entertaining. It did get a bit bogged down in names and family genealogy ala the Bible, though to be fair never did see the word begat! I will definitely be reading the other books in this trilogy' and other books by this other. Just mooched his book on the Cold War from Bookmooch.com., Armed Truce: The Beginnings of the Cold War 1945-46.
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.November 9, 2014
An erudite and sprawling old-fashioned narrative history (part 2 of 3) about the Spanish conquest of Latin America. Impossible to remember all the detail about the vast cast of characters. Skilfully weaves developments in Spain and wider Europe into the main narrative of Spanish ventures into Peru, Chile and (temporarily) Florida. Balances accounts of the conquistadors' lust for gold and maltreatment of the indigenous populations with serious attempts by the imperial and church authorities to impose a more humane regime. A good read.
October 9, 2013
Ok book on the establishment of the Empire in the New World. Many sections seemed to focus too much on listing the participants and their relation to each other, rather than telling the story of the conquest itself. Was good in describing the tension within the church about how to treat the native peoples.
September 29, 2016
The second (of three) books by Hugh Thomas on the Spanish empire, this one mainly concerned with Charles V. As was the case of the first volume, obsessively complete--so much so that things are again overwhelmed by detail (the names and relations of virtually everyone involved no matter their overall role and importance). Still, fascinating reading even though unnecessarily encyclopedic.
Want to read
January 15, 2011KOBOBOOKS
Reviewed by The Guardian
Reviewed by The Guardian
March 15, 2012
Lots and lots of detail about the various conquistadors and history of their conquest of (mostly) south and central America....
Want to read
October 4, 2011For Al
February 17, 2012
Heavy on names and places. You really need to have read his previous book River of Gold or Conquest.
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