Conquerors

More about the book

The narrative chronicles the rise of Portugal, a small, impoverished nation that achieved a century of maritime dominance through the audacity and navigational prowess of its explorers, unmatched by any other nation. Portugal's discovery of a sea route to India, its imperial conquests over Muslim rulers, and control of the spice trade disrupted the Mediterranean and established the first global economy. The author draws on letters and eyewitness accounts to illustrate Portugal's swift ascent to power. The story highlights the grandeur and brutality of the Império Português, featuring influential figures like King Manuel "the Fortunate," João II "the Perfect Prince," governor Afonso de Albuquerque, and explorer Vasco da Gama, who balanced personal ambitions with the empire's objectives in pursuit of wealth. A crucial element of the narrative is Portugal's mission to eradicate Islamic culture and forge a Christian empire in the Indian Ocean. Explorers ventured deep into Africa and aggressively besieged Indian port cities. The discovery of the route to India around Africa was a remarkable navigational achievement that disrupted the global order. For a century, no European empire was as ambitious or ruthless, creating the first long-range maritime empire and initiating the forces of globalization that continue to influence our world today.