In 1599, during the period when the Portuguese crown was united to the crowns of Castile and Aragon, a Portuguese master-at-arms called Domingo Luis Godinho wrote a manuscript in Spanish entitled Arte de Esgrima (The Art of Fencing). Although Godinho's live is largely a mystery and his text was never published, today his manuscript of utmost relevance in the study of Renaissance Iberian fencing, since it is the only complete treatise discovered so far describing the 'Common' or 'Vulgar' st...

Fear and Loathing in La Liga is the definitive history of the greatest rivalry in world sport: FC Barcelona vs. Real Madrid. It's Messi vs. Ronaldo, Guardiola vs. Mourinho, the nation against the state, freedom fighters vs. Franco's fascists, plus majestic goals and mesmerizing skills. It's the best two teams on the planet going head-to-head. It's more than a game. It's a war. It's El Cláco.Only, it's not quite that simple. Spanish soccer expert and historian Sid Lowe cov...

From the acclaimed author of Warriors of God comes a riveting account of the pivotal events of 1492, when towering political ambitions, horrific religious excesses, and a drive toward international conquest changed the world forever.James Reston, Jr., brings to life the epic story of Spain’s effort to consolidate its own burgeoning power by throwing off the yoke of the Vatican. By waging war on the remaining Moors in Granada and unleashing the Inquisitor Torquemada on Spain’s Jewi...

With startling speed, Spanish conquistadors invaded hundreds of Native American kingdoms, took over the mighty empires of the Aztecs and Incas, and initiated an unprecedented redistribution of the world's resources and balance of power. They changed the course of history, but the myth they established was even stranger than their real achievements. This Very Short Introduction deploys the latest scholarship to shatter and replace the traditional narrative. Chapters explore New World civili...

In "A Short History of Spain," Mary Platt Parmele offers a comprehensive yet succinct overview of Spanish history, weaving together significant events, cultural developments, and socio-political transformations from antiquity to the 20th century. Her literary style is characterized by clarity and precision, providing readers with an engaging narrative that often incorporates biographical sketches of pivotal figures and analyses of cultural milestones. Parmele's historical context, rooted i...

The English navy inflicted a narrow defeat on the Armada, but it was the Irish coast that encompassed its downfall. 'Heed that coast!' The Duke of Medina Sidonia wanted only to guide La Felissima Armada home safely. In the North Sea he issued sailing instructions, which, if they had been followed, would have given the Armada a safety margin of at least 300 miles. He particularly ordered them to '...take great heed lest you fall upon the island of Ireland for fear of the harm that may happe...

Tucked away in the Newberry Library of Chicago is an anonymous manuscript entitled Schermkunst ('Art of Swordsmanship'), whose brief text and exquisite watercolours details fencing with the single sword, rapier and dagger, rapier and buckler, halberd, and full pike. Beyond its artistic charms, however, this little book of 1595, is one of the oldest known martial arts treatises from the Low Countries and gives us a glimpse into the Art of Defense as it was practiced at a particularly volati...

Before dawn one morning in June 1612, an elderly Frenchman took charge of a carriage carrying a precious cargo near Tyburn Fields, London's notorious place of execution. It was heading for a house in Spitalfields, where a wizened Spanish woman was waiting to receive the mortal remains of freshly-martyred Catholic priests. Her name was Luisa de Carvajal and this book tells her story. Born into a great Spanish noble family, Luisa suffered a horribly abusive childhood and from her early years...

The Spanish Armada conjures up images of age-old rivalries, bravery and treachery. However the same Spanish monarch who sent the Armada to invade England in 1588 was, just a few years previously, the King of England and husband of Mary Tudor. This important new book sheds new light on Philip II of Spain, England's forgotten sovereign. Previous accounts of Mary's brief reign have focused on the martyrdom of Protestant dissenters, the loss of English territory, as well as Mary's infamous per...

Keen to learn but short on time? Get to grips with the life of Francisco Pizarro in next to no time with this concise guide.50Minutes.com provides a clear and engaging analysis of Francisco Pizarro. In the 16th century, much of the Americas was as of yet undiscovered by European explorers. After two expensive failed attempts and an agreement signed with the Spanish monarchy, Pizarro finally set out on a successful conquest to found new towns and seize the riches of...

Incorporating a wide range of visual and translated written sources, The Modern Spain Sourcebookdocuments Spain's history from the Enlightenment to the present.The book is thematically arranged and includes six key primary sources on ten significant areas of Spanish history, including the arts, work, education, religion, politics, sexuality and empire. As well as the book's overarching introduction, there are theme-specific introductions and vital historical context sectio...