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  • Conquistador

  • Hernan Cortes, King Montezuma, and the Last Stand of the Aztecs
  • By: Buddy Levy
  • Narrated by: Patrick Lawlor
  • Length: 12 hrs and 13 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (1,292 ratings)

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Conquistador

By: Buddy Levy
Narrated by: Patrick Lawlor
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Publisher's summary

It was a moment unique in human history: the face-to-face meeting between two men from civilizations a world apart.

In 1519 Hernán Cortés arrived on the shores of Mexico, determined not only to expand the Spanish empire but to convert the natives to Catholicism and carry off a fortune in gold. That he saw nothing paradoxical in his intentions is one of the most remarkable and tragic aspects of this unforgettable story.

In Tenochtitlán, Cortés met his Aztec counterpart, Montezuma: king, divinity, and commander of the most powerful military in the Americas. Yet in less than two years, Cortés defeated the entire Aztec nation in one of the most astounding battles ever waged.

The story of a lost kingdom, a relentless conqueror, and a doomed warrior, Conquistador is history at its most riveting.

©2008 Buddy Levy (P)2008 Tantor
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History

Critic reviews

"Lively account of the Spanish conquest of Mexico." ( Kirkus)
"Drawing heavily on both Spanish and Aztec sources...Levy gives a straightforward telling of the entire story.... Well-written.... Highly recommended." ( Library Journal)

What listeners say about Conquistador

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Fascinating take

Was absolutely spellbinding, well told and narrated.
The book held my attention from the very beginning to the end. I would recommend it to anyone wanting to know more about the origins of modern day Latin America.

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Must READ!

Where does Conquistador rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

One of the best

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This was an amazing book. The narrator is very engaging and the story is simply incredible. It is a must read for anyone interested in this period of history.

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Fascinating

Fascinating account of the Conquistador Cortez and the conquest of the Aztecs. The brutality of both the Spaniards and the Aztecs was absolutely appalling. I did not realize the extent to which other Native tribes played in supporting the Spaniards, nor did I realize before reading this book the role that European diseases such as small pox played in decimating the Aztec population. The Human ritualistic cannibalism that is detailed in the book must have played a role in the readiness of some of the other cultures to throw their support to the Spaniards. I had always thought that the massive treasure of the Aztec's was taken by Cortes, but I did not realize the majority of it was lost in the waters surrounding the capital. To have been such an advanced culture to have built what the Spaniards described as the most beautiful and magnificent city in the world, it is astonishing that the same culture practiced human sacrifice on such a massive scale. The book presents a very even handed perspective of both sides, good and bad. Narration was good. Well worth the credit if you enjoy history.

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Reviving Hernan Cortes life and time.

Absolutely a must read for anyone interested in this time period. Wonderful pace and full of details.

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Well done!

This is a well detailed book which reads like the adventure story it is. The book has strong historical supporting detail about a pretty epic cast of characters and was a fun and informative read.

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Great historical story , but...

Great story but just really disliked the narrators incorrect pronunciation of names. Other than that it was worth it

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Extensively researched and highly detailed

Absolutely fantastic book! It gave me a whole new view on Cortes and the conquering of the Aztecs. It's told in a dramatic way moving fast so there's no dull moments or down time. The narrator does a great job as well.

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an amazing story

who hasn't heard of Cortez and Montezuma? The history of these two and the Conquest of Mexico is as fascinating as it is tragic. A must read for any student of western history.

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Very descriptive and detailed.

This book will take you that era , a must read. The narrator did a superb job. Never had I learned so much of Aztec civilization and Cortez before this book.

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How complete a leader Cortes was

Recommend! Very thorough, I had no idea the Aztecs were such a great society. I had no idea Cortés was such a complete leader of men and how shrewd he was.

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