Conquistador Voices: The Spanish Conquest of the Americas as Recounted Largely by the Participants, Volume II

By: Kevin H Siepel

Narrated by: Kevin H Siepel

Length: 14 hrs and 52 mins

Publisher's summary

The Spanish Conquest: What Really Happened?

If you like to use your drive time for education by audiobook, consider this book for widening and deepening your view of an event you studied briefly in school - the Spanish conquest of the Americas.

Conquistador Voices, which relies more heavily than most works of this kind on first-person accounts, neither glamorizes nor condemns the conquistadors. Somewhat in the manner of a modern film documentary, it treats the so-called conquest as an historical event that’s worth learning about for its own sake, with most of the moralizing left to the listener.

In two volumes, Conquistador Voices covers five high-profile personages and their respective roles in this epochal event. Volume one features the voyages of Christopher Columbus and the conquest of Mexico by Hernán Cortés, while volume two provides an in-depth look at the conquest of Peru by Francisco Pizarro, the years-long desert odyssey of Álvar Nuñez Cabeza de Vaca, and the North American expedition of Hernando de Soto. Both volumes get deeply into details of Native American life in those times.

Spice up your drive time with this entertaining and educational audiobook excursion into the past.

©2015 Kevin H Siepel (P)2019 Kevin H Siepel

First hand account of amazing adventures.

Some of the stories are almost too amazing to be true, but seem to seemed to be Historically accurate. Very well researched and summarized by the author.

A true story

it painted such an accurate story that in reading it I felt the grief of the history

Excelent

Very good. Well done. In the words of Conquistadors, For me the highlight was the most complete telling of DeSoto trials and death.
Amazing stories these. One of my best book purchases.

An important work, beautifully told

Much has been written about this period in history, but never in this way before. Kevin Siepel is an excellent writer and expert researcher, and also a great reader. A must-listen for all historians, amateur and professional.

Conquistador Voices and Horse Whisperers

Exceptionally well researched and brought to life by the author, his riveting narration takes you from the shivering peaks of the Andes to the oppressive heat of the Mississippi delta, always wondering what comes next. Arguably a student of history, I discovered how little I knew about the conquistadors raw courage, deep faith and often brutal methods as they explored new continents in search of riches for Spain. Perhaps most surprising to me was the role of the horse, a feared and well used weapon of war. A mounted conquistador, fully armored, armed, and trained struck fear into the heart of native Americans, north and south, and was not to be taken lightly

Conquistador Voices is well worth your time. Whether versed in the history of the America’s or a novice, Mr. Siepel’s thorough analysis of the expeditions from their conception in Europe to their fulfillment in the new world will keep you wanting to know more. Who were these conquerors, what drove them, and how did they overcome such formidable odds? Listen to Conquistador Voices and find out.

A tale better than fiction

Both the first and second volumes of Conquistador Voices ate a wonderfully written and narrated story. Man you can close your eyes and listen to the word painting in your mind and have a vivid recounting of the lives of all these men. leaders and followers alike. conquerors and conquered. and because of the telling you'll be able to feel compassion for both groups. well done. I very much enjoyed listening.

El diablo is in the details

An avid reader of history, I am fascinated by the details, day-to-day life, of people participating in world shaping events, the "inside story." Mr. Siepel's recounting of first hand descriptions of events by the Spanish, and even some by the indigenous people they conquered, brought this important phase of history to life for me. I especially appreciate that he has done much of the translating himself, minimizing added shading of facts. I listened to most of it while walking or driving, but found that being without access to maps was not a hindrance, given the author's timely use of author's notes.
I recommend this book unreservedly.

A real history lesson from those who lived it.

Awesome story. Its mind blowing knowing these manifests were written by the conquistadors themselves . Im listening a second time just so I clear up any areas I may have missed while I was driving and listening to this audio book. The narrator/author has a dull tone at times but I respect him nonetheless and didn't mind since he did such a good job in putting this all together. I highly recommend for those who are interested in what times were like back in the 1490's to mid 1500's for the conquistadors. Sh*t was brutal!

Audio Version Adds a New Level to the Experience

I read both volumes of Conquistador Voices. They helped me understand and relate to the times.
Now, when I listen to the audio version of volume 2, the author as narrator makes me feel as though I’m personally witnessing the era.

Aurea

Perfect for all levels of historians

This is a well-written and carefully researched study of the lives, mindset, and motivations of the conquistadors that will appeal to history lovers of all levels of sophistication.