Giles Milton’s Nathaniel’s Nutmeg provides an interesting narrative on the historical account of the European race for control of the spice market in the 17th century. Milton interprets the Age of Exploration in-depth with accurate information yet provides an intriguing narrative of the conflicts between the Dutch and the English. Contrasting with Nathaniel’s Nutmeg, John Merriman’s A History of Modern Europe uses clear and concise mundane facts to provide the accounts of history during this era. Presenting history in a non-fiction novel makes the read effortless and alluring but also takes away some of the factual evidence. History presented in this form differs from accounts of colonial competition written by academic historians because of …show more content…
Although Courthope is significant as the leader of the British adventurers throughout the historical recount, his part in the expedition is embellished. The novel focuses too much on Courthope and does not give enough credit to the various men who fought and died during the Spice Wars. Within the story, Milton explains small details that aren’t necessarily crucial to history. The Merriman textbook offers details such as dates and locations but does not tell personal feelings and specifics. Merriman’s textbook tells the broad specifics such as the amount of casualties but does not provide how they died. For example, Nathaniel’s Nutmeg emphasizes the exact place and way the men died. The men were found “on the Muscovite coast with the men on board all frozen, and they narrate strange things about the mode in which they were frozen, pen still in hand, and the paper before them”. …show more content…
The history that Milton provided was all accurate and included primary sources unlike the Merriman textbook. The textbook is a secondary source while Nathaniel’s Nutmeg includes primary sources from original journals, diaries, and letters. (pg. 375). Although both are for the sole purpose of learning new information, novel’s are meant to capture the audience and textbooks are to inform and have drier material. Milton wrote in a way that enticed the writer’s to keep reading while giving information that accurately describes the explorations and Spice
Anais Nin once said that “we write to taste life twice: in the moment and in retrospection.” In his book, Seven Myths of Spanish Conquest, Matthew Restall tries to change our perception of the past in other to open our eyes to what life was really like during the colonial period. As Restall puts it, the main propose of the book is to “illustrate the degree to which the Conquest was a far more complex and protracted affair” (p.154) than what was supposed in the latters and chronicles left by the conquistadores. Each one of Restall’s chapters examines one of seven myths regarding the mystery behind the conquest. By doing so, Matthew Restall forces us to look back at the Spanish conquest and question
This assignment examines the document entitled “Bartolomé de las Casas, from Brief Account of the Devastation of the Indies.” Bartolomé de las Casas, who spent most of his time in the New World protecting the native people that lived there, authored the document in 1542. In this document Bartolome de Las Casas gives a detailed but horrific account of the atrocious behavior of the spaniards against the native people of the indies.He vividly describes the brutality brought on the natives by europeans all in the name of proclaiming and spreading Christianity.This document was originally intended for Charles I of Spain and one
Mortimer describes their laws, their medicine, their eating and dressing habits, and their entertainment. The purpose of The Time Traveler’s Guide to Elizabethan England is to give readers a vivid look into the past, into one of the most celebrated eras in history, with hopes that the modern era learns that “the past is not just something to be studied; it is also something to be lived” (Front Flap). Throughout the book, Mortimer makes several major interpretations of the society of
The Dutch seaborne empire (London, 1965) Canny, Nicholas: The Oxford History of the British Empire,vol I, TheOrigins of the Empire (New York 1998) Curtin, Philip D: The rise and fall of the plantation complex:essays in Atlantic history (Cambridge, 1990). Dunn, Richard S: Sugar and Slaves (North Carolina,1973) Haring, C.H: The Spanish Empire in America(New York, 1947) Hemming, John: Red gold: the conquest of the Brazilian Indians (Southampton 1978) Hobbhouse, Henry: Seeds of Change: Five plants that transformed mankind (1985) Mattoso, Katia M de Queiros: To be a slave in Brazil 1550-1888 (New Jersey, 1986) Mintz, Sidney W: Sweetness and Power (New York 1985) Winn, Peter: Americas:The changing face of Latin America and the Caribbean (California, 1999)
There have been circular arguments,internaionally, concerning whether Columbus discoverd or invaded the west Indies. through this essay I will explore all counter arguments for this particular topic. Its complex yet simple, one step at a time.
Moretti, Franco. Atlas of European Novel 1800-1900. Theoretical Interlude II. Geography of Plot. New York/London. Verso. 1998. 70. Print. 6 March 2014.
Stillinger, Jack, Deidre Lynch, Stephen Greenblatt, and M H. Abrams. The Norton Anthology of English Literature: Volume D. New York, N.Y: W.W. Norton & Co, 2006. Print.
The setting for this novel was a constantly shifting one. Taking place during what seems to be the Late Industrial Revolution and the high of the British Empire, the era is portrayed amongst influential Englishmen, the value of the pound, the presence of steamers, railroads, ferries, and a European globe.
...ition of spices into the market during the Middle Ages not only created an economic boom but also led to the change in social, political, and religious outlooks of society. The vast importance of the spice trade opened the doors for nations to expand and create new relationships with neighboring regions, but most importantly it allowed individuals such as Columbus, Da Gama, Polo and other explorers to be able to discover new domains that eventually led to the colonization of the Americas today. Paul Freedman’s book does an excellent job in enlightening the reader of how meaningful spices were throughout the centuries and with the help of numerous primary sources, the message was clear just after reading the first chapter. The book allows us to have a better understanding of the fundamental importance spices played in shifting the medieval times into the modern era.
Reichert, John. Milton's Wisdom: Nature and Scripture in Paradise Lost. Ann Arbor, The University of Michigan Press. 1992
Williamson, George. ed. Milton: Formal Essays and Critical Asides. Cleveland: Case Western Reserve Univ. Press, 1970.
Loewenstein, David A Student Guide: Milton-Paradise Lost, 2nd Edition Cambridge University Press, 1993, Second Edition 2004.
Parker, William R. Milton: A Biography. Vol. 1. London: Oxford UP, 1968. 2 vols. 469- 72.
Milton: Modern Essays in Criticism. Ed. Arthur E. Barker, b. 1875. New York: Oxford University Press, 1965. 205-217.
In conclusion, Paradise Lost can be seen through a historically contextual lens that allows us to see the parallels between Milton’s life and experiences during the reign of Charles I, and the predominant themes in his epic poem. Many of the themes in Paradise Lost, from the broader situational occurrences to the behavior of individual character’s and their attitudes toward the situations in which they find themselves can be seen as directly influenced by Milton’s time as a Parliamentarian in 17th century England.