Conquering The Pacific

An Unknown Mariner and the Final Great Voyage of the Age of Discovery

By: Andrés Reséndez

Narrated by: Phil Morris

The story of an uncovered voyage as colorful and momentous as any on record for the Age of Discovery—and of the Black mariner whose stunning accomplishment has been until now lost to history

It began with a secret mission, no expenses spared. Spain, plotting to break Portugal’s monopoly trade with the fabled Orient, set sail from a hidden Mexican port to cross the Pacific—and then, critically, to attempt the never-before-accomplished return, the vuelta. Four ships set out from Navidad, each one carrying a dream team of navigators. The smallest ship, guided by seaman Lope Martín, a mulatto who had risen through the ranks to become one of the most qualified pilots of the era, soon pulled far ahead and became mysteriously lost from the fleet. It was the beginning of a voyage of epic scope, featuring mutiny, murderous encounters with Pacific islanders, astonishing physical hardships—and at last a triumphant return to the New World. But the pilot of the fleet’s flagship, the Augustine friar mariner Andrés de Urdaneta, later caught up with Martín to achieve the vuelta as well. It was he who now basked in glory, while Lope Martín was secretly sentenced to be hanged by the Spanish crown as repayment for his services. Acclaimed historian Andrés Reséndez, through brilliant scholarship and riveting storytelling—including an astonishing outcome for the resilient Lope Martín--sets the record straight.

Fantastic history of a little known but important navigation history

I like the authors ability to break down complex topics into relatively easy to understand and digest concepts. The narrators style was very good. Overall, the book as well written easy to understand and I must listen for those were interesting History.

Fascinating!

Everything about this was fantastic!! From the story and how it was written to the excellent reading of it!

Must Read, Excellent

This is the perfect book to complete the European conquest of the Pacific. This is a very well read and well written book of the Spanish claim to Guam and the Philippines Excellent information, a must have book for anyone completing a library of Pacific history. A great source of information with regards to the Meridian line in the Pacific.