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Conquerors
- How Portugal Seized the Indian Ocean and Forged the First Global Empire
- Narrated by: John Sackville
- Length: 11 hrs and 13 mins
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Publisher's Summary
As remarkable as Columbus and the conquistador expeditions, the history of Portuguese exploration is now almost forgotten.
But Portugal's navigators cracked the code of the Atlantic winds, launched the expedition of Vasco da Gama to India and beat the Spanish to the spice kingdoms of the East - then set about creating the first long-range maritime empire.
In an astonishing blitz of 30 years, a handful of visionary and utterly ruthless empire builders, with few resources but breathtaking ambition, attempted to seize the Indian Ocean, destroy Islam and take control of world trade.
Told with Roger Crowley's customary skill and verve, this is narrative history at its most vivid - an epic tale of navigation, trade and technology, money and religious zealotry, political diplomacy and espionage, sea battles and shipwrecks, endurance, courage and terrifying brutality.
Drawing on extensive firsthand accounts, it brings to life the exploits of an extraordinary band of conquerors - men such as Afonso de Albuquerque, the first European since Alexander the Great to found an Asian empire - who set in motion 500 years of European colonisation and unleashed the forces of globalisation.
Roger Crowley read English at Cambridge. He has had a varied career as a teacher and publisher and is the author of three books on the history of the Mediterranean. He lives in Gloucestershire and now writes full time.
What listeners say about Conquerors
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- Paul P Hansen
- 30-01-2024
Riveting listening
A very gripping history of the early days of the Portuguese empire. Great narrative that will keep you listening. Recommended for anyone with a passing interest.
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- Anonymous User
- 15-12-2023
Entertaining and informative
Excellent book well read. The choice to focus on a particular period in time was inspired. I learned much about the Portuguese expansion that other books have glossed over.
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- Raymond
- 27-09-2016
Superbly written and compelling
A book I will remember for the rest of my life! Roger Crowley writes in a manner that places you in the years of discovery. Using the diverse landscape of the time with a zest of expression, every chapter delivers a more compelling adventure that will have you listening for hours on end. I loved everything about this book.
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- Vytautas
- 01-10-2016
Amazing Story
Incredible accounts during a bizarre time. Author seems oddly admiring of Portugese activities though cruel.
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