The Other 1492: Ferdinand, Isabella, and the Making of an Empire

By: Teofilo F. Ruiz, The Great Courses

Narrated by: Teofilo F. Ruiz

Length: 6 hrs and 15 mins

Publisher's summary

Ask anyone about the significance of the year 1492, and you're almost certain to hear something about Christopher Columbus and the discovery of the New World. But there is also a perspective on 1492 far different than the one most of us know - one that is more complete and complex. A 1492 when there was no country called Spain and no language called Spanish. A 1492 whose biggest event - in the region that would eventually become Spain - was the surrender of the last Muslim stronghold, Granada, with the subsequent Edict of Expulsion that gave Jews three months to either convert to Christianity or leave the Kingdom of Castile and the Crown of Aragon.

This 12-lecture series uses the year 1492 to examine the events that made Spain a country and an empire. It examines the centuries of developments that led up to that pivotal year in Spanish history and the consequences that followed for both Spain and the New World, presenting Spanish history from the perspective of both the victors and the defeated: the Muslims, Jews, and New World natives for whom 1492 was not a time of wonder but of terror and despair.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.

©2002 The Teaching Company, LLC (P)2002 The Great Courses

The best.

Excellent narrator and teacher. The perspectives presented here are superb and factual. I cannot emphasize enough how smooth and coherent this is!

Comprehensive, balanced, brilliant

This was the first lecture series I listened to and it captivated me. Professor Ruíz is brilliant in his execution, the depth and breadth of his knowledge is amazing and his recounting of this little known side of 1492 is comprehensive, nuanced and balanced. Very enjoyable!

Really informative

Professor Ruiz is a true expert and his lectures are very clear. He does have a Spanish accent, but you get used to it after a while and, of course, it's to be expected since this is about Spanish history. I wish it were not so short and that he had time to discuss in greater depth some important events that only get touched upon here, such as the Inquisition. But it's a great introduction and provides a good background for further research.

Excellent

Great intro/orientation, in depth progression but easy to follow. Many facts of interest not commonly known. Highly Recommended, enjoyable lecture.

Don't miss this course!

An honor from beginning to end. Professor Ruiz was fascinating. Everything you you have already learned in school he will enlighten you ! this a course you enjoy taking over and over again.
Frances v Payne

Slightly misleading name, great anyway

Definitely worth it, should one wish to know more about the intricacies of that allowed Columbus to sail.

An extraordinary history about the truth of 1492

Great attention to separating the myth of the discovery with the reality. The not so glamorous creation of a world wide empire by chance, fate and a lot of luck. And it all started with the Reconquest of a peninsula facing the Atlantic Ocean. One of my favorite audible books in my history books collection because so much detail, and trivia facts, that makes the discovery of America parallel to the first moon landing. Professor Ruiz is so engaging in his love for separating the fictional accounts from reality that you don't want him to stop. What was made popular in movies and schools is shown against the not so glamorous truth, most times without Hollywood-LIKE happy endings. I hope he continues this into a series!

Facinating details of a rich history of the past

The narrator was wonderful in how he presents this wonderful rich history
great detail and wonderful experiances presented.

A true picture of 15th century Spain

Professor Ruiz, masterfully weaves political, cultural and sociological components of 1492 Spain and into the early 16th century. He addresses the obvious parts of history we know but also a few of the uncomfortable yet necessary contradictions in how the Spanish monarchy dealt with religion, regional challenges and the new world.

Teo is one of the best

This is one of my favorites of the great courses lecture series. Professor Ruiz is amazingly intellectual and yet funny. I really appreciate how all of his courses, and the lectures in them, are all well structured and organized. Still, they are not just a linear marching through a century of history, but instead are organized around an interesting topic. Most of this history I knew very little about, and I really didn’t understand the relative importance of what was happening in this era in Spain. I also appreciated that he dealt candidly with the sad parts of this history, but also tried to explain what the perception of these events at the time was, instead of focusing mostly on our modern reactions to these disturbing events.