A fascinating look at the political pressures in post-Crusade Europe through the eyes of a small country with only one major asset, its skill in navigation and sailing. Portugal embarks on an adventurous and costly plan that is grounded in imperialism, religious zealotry, and economic goals. Conquerors provides a deep history of the influences driving this decision, the personalities involved, and the atrocities committed in the name of ousting the Mamluks from Jerusalem and the Venetians from monopoly over Eastern luxury goods.

The writing style is poetic and compelling without sparing the details in the more horrific actions committed by the Portuguese. It blends excerpts from historical documents with a strong narrative style. It’s the rare history book that is hard to put down, but this is one of them, despite the occasional repetition I noticed at times. Conquerors offers both an overall sense of the economic and political pressures in Europe and a close look at the people involved in this grandiose endeavor. It neither spares the Portuguese in the descriptions nor makes them into uninspired monsters, though it might seem like that at times. We learn about their atrocities in Europe, Africa, and the East, but we also discover moments when they adapted and worked with those they intended to conquer, making it more well rounded than you might expect from the title.

Of particular interest to me is Afonso de Albuquerque, the last person to get a detailed treatment in the book. He wins this focus because his part begins when he’s an arrogant, glory-seeking, bloodthirsty young man and continues until his death, at which point he has angered the more traditional Portuguese with his tactics as he blended harsh justices with strong governance to gain the respect of the conquered people. This demonstrated both the reasons he was sent in the first place, and his ability to mature and adapt to circumstances until he became more calculated and strategic. However, in part because of the whispers of his enemies and also because of the long communication line (a year and a half), King Manuel was unable to understand or appreciate Albuquerque until too late.

It’s a characteristics of this book that while it recounts history, I feel inclined to speak in obscure notes so as not to spoil the read, but even knowing this much is only a light brush stroke on a complicated canvas.

There is not enough room in a review to cover all the bits and pieces that inspired my imagination, but among the European aspects is the changing of Papal influence, the economic impact of the Crusades on the Middle Eastern trade borders, and the treatment of non-Christians.

The aspects in India reminded me of the Western attitude that infuses much first contact science fiction along with the assumption of hostility, showing this history an important one to study. Portugal arrives in a place where peaceful trade has been established across political and religious lines, but never takes the time to learn how things are different before imposing its own image and provoking disaster. The assumption everything will be the same proves deadly in other ways as well, such as the discovery of how monsoons govern the timing of trade and war.

In other places, quick mentions entertain and educate such as the timing of the word “discovery” in the Portuguese language or how they learned to treat cannonballs as skipping stones to increase the range. There are more elements I’ve noted, but I’ve gone on long enough for you to understand just what you’re getting in reading this historical account.

Conquerors is a colorful, detailed account that coddles neither the king nor his chosen people in recounting brutal tactics that may still have echoes in Islamic countries today. At the same time, the book reveals what lies behind such actions from fanatical religious zeal to delayed and contradictory commands. It’s a complex, multilayered account of the wise and foolhardy efforts to break a trade monopoly and open new rewards for Portugal despite its limited resources and with little care for the costs.

P.S. I received this title from the publisher through NetGalley in return for an honest review.