Magna Carta Bookshop

Pages: 277

Page, Martin: The First Global Village

EUR 19,00

Click to enlarge

- How Portugal Changed the World -

When Jonah was swallowed by the big fish, he was trying to escape to what is now Portugal. Here, Hannibal discovered the warriors, weapons and gold, to march on Rome; and Julius Caesar found the fortune, that paid the way to his conquests of Gaul and England.

During the Dark Ages further north, Portugal's Arab rulers made it part of the Norman conquest of Lisbon, the new, the wealthiest nation in Europe.

Before he became Pope John XXI, João Hispano of Lisbon wrote one of the first modern medical text-books, consulted through much of Europe more than a century later. Portuguese Jews introduced tulips, chocolate and diamonds to Holland.

The Portuguese gave the English afternoon tea, and Bombay, the key to the empire. They brought to Africa protection from malaria, and slave-shipments to America; to India, higher education, curry and samosas; to Japan, tempura and firearms.

Portugal entered the 21st century as the first European nation to have freed itself from communism, returned to democracy and set about rebuilding itself, as a vital part of new Europe.

This product was added to our catalog on Tuesday 17 October, 2006.

Top » Catalog » Portugal in English » History »	Book Enquiry \| My Account \| Cart Contents \| Checkout
Magna Carta Journal


Wednesday 10 March, 2010	Urb. Quinta da Praia Lote 4 - Loja 10 - 8500 Alvor Tel/Fax: 282 496 001