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The Last Crusade: How Vasco Da Gama's Epic Voyages Turned The Tide In A Centuries-Old Clash Of Civilizations (2012)

by Nigel Cliff(Favorite Author)

4.12 of 5 Votes: 4

ISBN

0061735132 (ISBN13: 9780061735134)

languge

English

genre

History & Biography

publisher

Harper Perennial

review 1: This book wasn't the straight-forward recounting of da Gama's life and voyages that I expected. Instead the author starts out with the history of Islam and its conquest of much of the globe before the ruling muslims were driven out of Europe. He ties da Gama's voyages to India into the european desire to rid Jerusalem of muslims. Indeed, da Gama tried to get the Indian potentates with whom he wanted to trade, to rid their domains of the muslims who lived and traded there. When they wouldn't da Gama attacked both the Indians and the muslim trading ships. The voyages were an insane mixture of religion, trade, piracy and military actions. The portugese even carried the Inquisition to India. The author ends with the opinion that the current battles between the west and ... moreal quaeda are a contiuation, or perhaps a revival, of emnities that first surfaced 500 years ago, and that bloodshed has been copious on both sides.
review 2: Fascinating book - felt I had to read it as I spent many summers in the town where Vasco da Gama was born. There is a big statue of him,looking very similar to Henry VIII. I had never realised what an amazing life he led, as well as contributing to the Muslim / Christian conflict that continues today. A bit of a surprise to think I was only 70% of the way through the book on Kindle to then find the book ending...the rest is footnotes / sources. less

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