In 'Conquerors,' Roger Crowley unveils the gripping saga of the Ottoman Empire's quest for supremacy in the Mediterranean during the 16th century. Through vivid storytelling, he delves into the lives of formidable leaders, relentless battles, and daring naval strategies that shaped the course of history. The book intricately weaves the personal ambitions of power-hungry conquerors with the broader narrative of collision between civilizations. Readers will be captivated by Crowley's skilled portrayal of both triumph and tragedy as empires rise and fall. Can the echoes of the past reveal lessons for our modern world?
By Roger Crowley
Published: 2015
""In the relentless tides of ambition and conflict, history is not merely written by victors, but by those who dare to dream beyond the horizon of their own age.""
In Conquerors, New York Times bestselling author Roger Crowley gives us the epic story of the emergence of Portugal, a small, poor nation that enjoyed a century of maritime supremacy thanks to the daring and navigational skill of its explorers—a tactical advantage no other country could match. Portugal’s discovery of a sea route to India, campaign of imperial conquest over Muslim rulers, and domination of the spice trade would forever disrupt the Mediterranean and build the first global economy. Crowley relies on letters and eyewitness testimony to tell the story of tiny Portugal’s rapid and breathtaking rise to power. Conquerors reveals the Império Português in all of its splendor and ferocity, bringing to life the personalities of the enterprising and fanatical house of Aviz. Figures such as King Manuel “the Fortunate,” João II “the Perfect Prince,” marauding governor Afonso de Albuquerque, and explorer Vasco da Gama juggled their private ambitions and the public aims of the empire, often suffering astonishing losses in pursuit of a global fortune. Also central to the story of Portugal’s ascent was its drive to eradicate Islamic culture and establish a Christian empire in the Indian Ocean. Portuguese explorers pushed deep into the African continent in search of the mythical Christian king Prester John, and they ruthlessly besieged Indian port cities in their attempts to monopolize trade. The discovery of a route to India around the horn of Africa was not only a brilliant breakthrough in navigation but heralded a complete upset of the world order. For the next century, no European empire was more ambitious, no rulers more rapacious than the kings of Portugal. In the process they created the first long-range maritime empire and set in motion the forces of globalization that now shape our world. At Crowley’s hand, the complete story of the Portuguese empire and the human cost of its ambition can finally be told. Praise for Conquerors “Excellent . . . Crowley’s interpretations are nuanced and fair.”—The Christian Science Monitor “In a riveting narrative, Crowley chronicles Portugal's horrifically violent trajectory from ‘impoverished, marginal’ nation to European power, vying with Spain and Venice to dominate the spice trade.”—Kirkus Reviews (starred review) “Brings to life the Portuguese explorers . . . perfect for anyone who likes a high seas tale.”—Publishers Weekly “Readers of Crowley’s previous books will not be disappointed by this exciting tale of sea battles, land campaigns and shipwrecks. . . . Crowley makes a good case for reclaiming Portugal’s significance as forger of the first global empire.”—The Daily Telegraph “Crowley has shown a rare gift for combining compelling narrative with lightly worn academic thoroughness as well as for balancing the human with the geopolitical—qualities on display here. The story he has to tell may be a thrilling one but not every historian could tell it so thrillingly.”—Michael Prodger, Financial Times “A fast-moving and highly readable narrative . . . [Crowley’s] detailed reconstruction of events is based on a close reading of the works of the chroniclers, notably Barros and Correa, whose accounts were written in the tradition of the chronicles of chivalry.”—History Today
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“"In the relentless tides of ambition and conflict, history is not merely written by victors, but by those who dare to dream beyond the horizon of their own age."”
Conquerors
By Roger Crowley
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Roger Crowley is a distinguished author and historian, known for his engaging writings on maritime history and the Renaissance. His notable works include 'City of Fortune: How Venice Ruled the Seas', '1453: The Holy War for Constantinople and the Clash of Islam and the West', and 'Empires of the Sea: The Siege of Malta, the Battle of Lepanto, and the Contest for the Center of the World'. Crowley's writing style is characterized by his vivid storytelling and meticulous research, seamlessly blending narrative and historical analysis to bring past events to life for contemporary readers.
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