Description

Willi am Hickling Prescott (May 4, 1796 – January 28, 1859) was an American historian who is widely recognized to have been the first American scientific historian. Despite suffering from serious visual impairment, which at times prevented him from reading or writing for himself, Prescott became one of the most eminent historians of 19th century America. He is also noted for his eidetic memory . A direct descendant of the revolutionary American officer William Prescott, William H. Prescott spent his childhood and adolescence in Boston, Massachusetts. Prescott attended Harvard University, and considered a legal career, but his poor health prevented him from working professionally and he therefore dedicated himself to a life of writing. After an extensive period of study, during which he sporadically contributed to academic journals, Prescott specialized in late Renaissance Spain and the early Spanish Empire. His works on the subject, The History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella the Catholic (1837), The History of the Conquest of Mexico (1843), A History of the Conquest of Peru (1847) and the unfinished History of the Reign of Phillip II (1856–1858) have become classic works in the field. The Conquest of Mexico is a magnificent epic," said William H. Prescott after the publication of History of the Conquest of Mexico in 1843. Since then, his sweeping account of Cortés's subjugation of the Aztec people has endured as a landmark work of scholarship and dramatic storytelling. This pioneering study presents a compelling view of the clash of civilizations that reverberates in Latin America to this day. The year is 1520. Cortes embarks from Cuba with the aim of claiming Mexico for Spain. Arriving in the capital, he is made welcome by the divine ruler, Montezuma, and the two men become friends. Montezuma comes to believe that Cortes is, in fact, the ancient Aztec god, Quetzalcoatl. Cortes' attempts to convert Montezuma to Christianity fail. He takes his counterpart prisoner, but within chivalrous limits. The arrival of a new body of Spaniards, seeking to overthrow Cortes, whom they see as a vainglorious rebel, screws up the tension. Eventually, Montezuma dies and a fierce, bloody battle ensues. Ferdinand and Isabella is Prescott's complete epic history of his favorite person in the world, Queen Isabella and her husband Ferdinand. From her youth and her lifelong relationship with Gonsalo De Cordoba ( the Great Captain) , great details of court life and of all of the battles she participated in, creating field hospitals and cafeterias on the battlefield. Included is the complete story of her relationship with Christopher Columbus and her total loyalty toward him. This is masterly writing of history, comparable to his histories of the conquests of the Aztecs and of the Incas. With her intelligence and firm dedication to her subjects, Isabella is the finest figure in this period of history, possibly the best epoch ever, and despite the great stain of the Inquisition, she is probably the most loved monarch by her people in all of history. Charles V , (born February 24, 1500, Ghent, Flanders [now in Belgium]—died September 21, 1558, San Jerónimo de Yuste, Spain), Holy Roman Emperor (1519–56), king of Spain (as Charles I; 1516–56), and archduke of Austria (as Charles I; 1519–21), who inherited a Spanish and Hapsburg empire extending across Europe from Spain and the Netherlands to Austria and the Kingdom of Naples and reaching overseas to Spanish America. He struggled to hold his empire together against the growing forces of Protestantism, increasing Ottoman and French pressure, and even hostility from the pope. At last he yielded, abdicating his claims to the Netherlands and Spain in favor of his son Phillip II and the title of emperor to his brother Ferdinand I and retiring to a monastery. All of his victories in battle against the French as well as his political ambitions are chronicled. Charles is considered one of the most powerful rulers in the history of Europe.