The incredible clash of old and new world cultures that set the template for what was to come for americas indigenous people. Hugh thomas s achievement is not only to present a compelling history of the time but to answer as well such controversial questions as who the traders were, the extent of the profits, and why so many african rulers and peoples willingly collaborated. The conquest of mexico paperback december 28, 2004 by hugh thomas author 4. Pdf, epubs, mobi, emagazines, epaper, ejournal and more. A full, vivid and deeply serious treatment of a great subject. Montezuma, cortes, and the fall of old mexico thomas, hugh. Conquest book by hugh thomas official publisher page.
For either longterm consequences or immediate drama, there are few conflicts in history to rival that between montezuma and hernan cortes. The norman conquest england after william the conqueror hugh m. Hugh thomas account of the collapse of montezumas great mexican empire under the onslaughts of cortes conquistadores is one of the major historical works of the decade. Thomas has understood the spanish civil war incredibly well and has written it superbly. It bristles with moral and political issues that are profoundly relevant to our time, and is also a thrilling narrative, brimful ofthe sheer excitement of discovery. Hugh swynnerton thomas, baron thomas of swynnerton, was a british historian and hispanist. He does a good job of telling a story which can hardly fail to be exciting in an exciting way. Thomas s thesis, however, ignores the aztecs own selfdestructive policies. The broken spears the aztec account of the conquest of. Macaulay wrote that the way aztec emperor montezuma died was one of the two things that every schoolboy knew. See all 3 formats and editions hide other formats and editions. Ringing with the fury of two great empires locked in an epic battle, conquest captures in extraordinary. Hugh swynnerton thomas, baron thomas of swynnerton 21 october 1931 7 may 2017 was an english historian, writer and life peer in the house of lords.
His 1961 book the spanish civil war won the somerset maugham award for 1962. Hugh swynnerton thomas, baron thomas of swynnerton 21 october 1931 7 may 2017 was. Buy a cheap copy of whos who of the conquistadors cassell. I first met hugh thomas in 1968 when i arrived at the university of reading to study for a. Read conquest cortes, montezuma, and the fall of old mexico by hugh thomas available from rakuten kobo. The global empire of philip ii by hugh thomas, allen lane, rrp. Ringing with the fury of two great empires locked in an epic battle. From the perspective of a modern social historian, hugh m. Hugh thomass achievement is not only to present a compelling history of the time but to answer as well such controversial questions as who the traders were, the extent of the profits, and why so many african rulers and peoples willingly collaborated. Drawing on standard sources and previously untapped archives in. Hugh swynnerton thomas, lord thomas of swynnerton, historian, born 21 october 1931. Hugh thomass work as a mathematician takes him around the world to conferences and residencies, which has contributed to the polylingual mishmash out of which his poetry arises. Revised and updated with significant new material, including new revelations about atrocities perpetrated against civilians by both pdf sides in.
Dont let the huge number of pages848 put you off, this is a very readable and thoroughly researched account of the events leading upto the conquest and the. Thomas was educated at sherborne school in dorset before taking a ba in 1953 at queens college, cambridge. Hugh thomas s work as a mathematician takes him around the world to conferences and residencies, which has contributed to the polylingual mishmash out of which his poetry arises. Thomas considers the conquests wideranging impact by taking a fresh look at such traditional themes as the influence of battles and great men on history and assessing how far the shift in ruling dynasty and noble elites affected broader aspects of english. Drawing on newly discovered sources and writing with brilliance, drama, and profound historical insight, hugh thomas pre. Conquest ebook by hugh thomas 9781439127254 rakuten kobo. Thomas was born 21 october 1931 in windsor, england, to hugh whitelegge thomas, a colonial commissioner, and his wife margery augusta angelo, nee swynnerton. Buy conquest by hugh thomas from waterstones today. Thomas considers the conquests wideranging impact by taking a fresh look at such traditional themes as the influence of battles and great men on history and assessing how far the shift in ruling dynasty.
Thomas considers the conquest s wideranging impact by taking a fresh look at such traditional themes as the influence of battles and great men on history and assessing how far the shift in ruling dynasty and noble elites affected broader aspects of english history. A masterful survey of the origins, development, nature, and decline of the trade in african men, women, and children, drawing heavily on original sources. The slave trade book by hugh thomas official publisher. Montezuma, cortes, and the fall of old mexico by thomas, hugh, 1931publication date 1993. Drawing on newly discovered sources and writing with brilliance, drama, and profound historical insight, hugh thomas presents an engrossing narrative of one.
Exploring the successful norman invasion of england in 1066, this concise and readable book focuses especially on the often dramatic and enduring changes wrought by william the conqueror and his followers. Cortes, montezuma, and the fall of old mexico thomas, hugh on. The conquest of mexico by hugh thomas accessibility books library as well as its powerful features, including thousands and thousands of title from favorite author, along with the capability to read or download hundreds of boos on your pc or smartphone in minutes. Drawing on newly discovered sources and writing with brilliance, drama, and profound historical insight, hugh thomas presents an engrossing narrative of one of the most significant events of western history. The conquest of mexico was a historical event and also a book i have been reading, handily enough i recommend the book as a way into a fascinating subject. Drawing on standard sources and previously untapped archives in seville, the author focuses on how an audacious soldier of fortune from spains minor.
A masterpiece of the historians art, hugh thomass the spanish civil war remains the best, most engrossing narrative of one of the most emblematic and misunderstood wars of the twentieth century. Until recently, only a few leaders were well known among the spanish warriors who brutally subjugated the mayan and aztec empires of mexico. Lord thomas of swynnerton obituary books the guardian. Distinguished scholar and historian hugh thomas has made good use of recently discovered archival material in both spain and mexico to. May 09, 2017 hugh swynnerton thomas, lord thomas of swynnerton, historian, born 21 october 1931. Hugh thomas documents characters and events in as much detail as humanly conceivablemonumental. Conquest is the absolutely complete story of the yielding of one great empire to another. Hugh thomas does a heroic job of bring to life events and nuances in this account of the 1519 militarycultural incursion and ultimate conquest of old mexico. Almost two centuries later, hugh thomas expands on prescotts perspective of native american participation in the conquest, stating that, the conquest of 15201 required cortes capacity and determination to win over the indians 6. Montezuma, cortes and the fall of old mexico by hugh.
Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. British historian hugh thomas has assembled an awe inspiring account of the backgrounds of hernan cortes, and his counterpart, the emperor of the mexica mesheeca, the author does not refer to them as aztec, preferring to use the named they had for themselves montezuma ii. Click and collect from your local waterstones or get free uk delivery on orders over. Edward schumacher the wall street journal a fascinating work that will surely go down as a defining book on the era and one of the best and most readable nonfiction books of the year.
Montezuma, cortes, and the fall of old mexico reprinted ed by thomas, hugh isbn. The slave trade is alive with villains and heroes and illuminated by eyewitness accounts. In conquest one of the most distinguished modern historians has written the first major history of the conquest of mexico since prescotts classic account, published over 150 years ago. Hugh thomas is evidently a historian of spain primarily. This is the first major history of the conquest of mexico since prescotts classic account, published over 170 years ago. Thomas considers the conquests wideranging impact by taking a fresh look at such traditional themes as the influence of battles. Includes bibliographical references pages 774793 and index ancient mexico spain of the golden age to know the secrets of the land cortes and montezuma cortes plans undone the spanish recovery the battle for tenochtitlan aftermath. Hugh has lived in winnipeg, toronto, chicago, london, and fredericto.
Thomass thesis, however, ignores the aztecs own selfdestructive policies. Alfred macadam newsday conquest makes such exciting reading one forgets that these things actually happened. Cortes conquest of mexico in 15191521 is one of the most famous stories in the world. The unparalleled history of the fall of old mexico drawing on newly discovered sources and writing with brilliance, drama, and profound historical insight, hugh thomas presents an engrossing narrative of one of the most significant events of western history ringing with the fury of two great empires locked in an epic battle, conquest captures in extraordinary detail th the unparalleled history. A former chairman of the centre for policy studies u. Hugh thomas documents characters and events in as much detail as humanly. Download conquest or read online books in pdf, epub, tuebl, and mobi format. The unparalleled history of the fall of old mexico. Hugh thomas is the author of the spanish civil war, conquest, and many other books. Conquest book by hugh thomas official publisher page simon.