Holy War

by Cliff, Nigel

• ISBN13: 9780061735127
• ISBN10: 0061735124
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2011-09-06
• Publisher: Harpercollins

Summary

Historian Nigel Cliff delivers a sweeping, radical reinterpretation of Vasco da Gama's pioneering voyages, revealing their significance as a decisive turning point in the struggle between Christianity and Islam-a series of events which forever altered the relationship between East and West. Perfect for readers of Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage, Galileo's Daughter, and Atlantic, this first-ever complete account of da Gama's voyages includes new information from the recently discovered diaries of his sailors and an extraordinary series of letters between da Gama and the Zamorin, a king of modern-day Kerala, India. Cliff, the author of The Shakespeare Riots, draws upon his own travels in da Gama's footsteps to add detail, authenticity, and a contemporary perspective to this riveting, one-of-a-kind historical epic.

Table of Contents

List of Illustrations	p. ix
Author's Note	p. xi
Prologue	p. 1
Origins
East and West	p. 11
The Holy Land	p. 31
A Family War	p. 50
The Ocean Sea	p. 70
The End of the World	p. 92
The Rivals	p. 121
Exploration
The Commander	p. 155
Learning the Ropes	p. 111
The Swahili Coast	p. 188
Riding the Monsoon	p. 213
Kidnap	p. 232
Dangers and Delights	p. 245
A Venetian in Lisbon	p. 272
Crusade
The Admiral of India	p. 297
Shock and Awe	p. 316
Standoff at Sea	p. 331
Empire of the Waves	p. 354
The King's Deputy	p. 375
The Crazy Sea	p. 390
Epilogue	p. 407
Acknowledgments	p. 422
Notes	p. 424
Select Bibliography	p. 512
Index	p. 527
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