Recommended Reading

[Deaghaidh]

I just finished 1493, the sequel to 1491. Both are great books and imo great things to read for those interested in the EU era. I'd strongly encourage the developers to read them, especially 1493, which is mostly about the.economic and ecological consequences of contact between the old and new worlds.

In a similar vein, Id encourage dans and designers to read Guns Germs and Steel. Another book that explores the.reasons behind Europes rise.

Anyone else have books theyd recommend for this era?

 

[Don_Quigleone]

The True History of the Conquest of New Spain by Bernal Diaz del Castillo.

Excellent first hand account of how 2000 spaniards conquered an Empire of millions.

I'd say probably the best account of how the spanish conquered the Mexico, though it's important to bear in mind that Bernal Diaz is a bit biased about certain things (though less biased then the other major account, Cortez's letters to Charles V).

 

[Immortal Impi]

The True History of the Conquest of New Spain by Bernal Diaz del Castillo.

Excellent first hand account of how 2000 spaniards conquered an Empire of millions.

2,000 Spaniards and a hundred thousand native allies.

 

[Don_Quigleone]

2,000 Spaniards and a hundred thousand native allies.

That was part of the genius of it. Don't forget, they were complete foreigners, and in less then 2 years built a coalition to overthrow the Aztecs. Admittedly, they were initially mistaken for gods, but that counted for less then you might think. The Spaniards were quite crafty.

 

[Immortal Impi]

That was part of the genius of it. Don't forget, they were complete foreigners, and in less then 2 years built a coalition to overthrow the Aztecs. Admittedly, they were initially mistaken for gods, but that counted for less then you might think. The Spaniards were quite crafty.

I don't disagree; Cortez was quite intelligent in the way he manipulated the natives into following him despite not knowing anything about the land. I'm just saying that it's a myth that 2,000 Spaniards singlehandedly destroyed the Aztec empire.

 

[Don_Quigleone]

I don't disagree; Cortez was quite intelligent in the way he manipulated the natives into following him despite not knowing anything about the land. I'm just saying that it's a myth that 2,000 Spaniards singlehandedly destroyed the Aztec empire.

Personally, I still consider that they did it singlehandedly. That they didn't win in a "straight fight" doesn't really change things for me. 2000 men went in, and a few years later Charles V was pleasantly surprised to find out that an Empire had been conquered for him! The Spaniards did not simply win because they were stronger then the natives (while steel, cannon and horses helped, mexican weight of numbers would have outweighed that), but also because they were craftier then the Mexicans, which, if anything makes their achievement more interesting.

That said, Pizarro repeated the feat again only a little later (though more crudely in my opinion then Cortez), so the Spaniards clearly possessed some natural advantages given their technology, disease and savvy.

 

[MaximusII]

"The Military Revolution - Military innovation and the rise of the West 1500 - 1800" by Geoffrey Parker.

 

[Connor Mulhern]

Just a note to the developers, Gun, Germs and Steel is a good book, but needs to be taken with a grain of salt as it does not factor in sub-saraharan africa, that place should have been the most backwater, but it was fairly advanced and breaks the model. But then again there are some parts that could be introduced, such as the spread of "plagues" in the americas

 

[Chamboozer]

Gunpowder & Galleys by John Francis Guilmartin, one of the best history books I've ever read and essential for understanding Mediterranean history in this period.

 

[SerialCereal]

"Why the West Rules ~ For Now" is a good book, all through there are several holes with his theory it still provides a vast wealth of knowledge about the fluctuations of power from east to west and the causes of such fluctuations.

 

[unmerged(465257)]

Gunpowder & Galleys by John Francis Guilmartin, one of the best history books I've ever read and essential for understanding Mediterranean history in this period.

Great, thank you for that recommendation!

 

[Don_Quigleone]

Guns Germs and Steel was a good book, but my main criticism is that it's a tad repetitive. Once you've read the first half or so of the book, you don't really have much to learn from the rest. Heck, the first two chapters alone probably contain 70% of what you can learn from the book. I think the author padded it a bit.

The core idea of it is quite sound though.

 

[Sam L]

Marie Antoinette: The Journey

The Six Wives of Henry VIII

Catherine de Medici: Renaissance Queen of France