A Concise History of Portugal (Cambridge Concise Histories) [Hardcover]

David Birmingham (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 8, 2003 | ISBN-10: 0521830044 | ISBN-13: 978-0521830041 | Edition: Updated

This concise, illustrated history of Portugal presents an introduction to the people and culture of the country and its search for economic modernization, political stability and international partnership. The first single-volume account of Portugal's history since the days of dictatorship and colonization, this updated second edition also covers the state of historical writing on Portugal at the turn of the millennium. First Edition Hb (1993): 0-521-43308-8 First Edition Pb (1993): 0-521-43880-2 David Birmingham is a Professor of Modern History at the University of Kent, Canterbury. He has written extensively on Portugal and Africa including, among others, The Decolonization of Africa (UCL Press, 1995), History of Central Africa, Volume Three (Longman, 1998), and Portugal and Africa (Macmillan, 1999) and, more recently, a survey of Trade and Empire in the Atlantic, 1400-1600 (Routledge, 2000).

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Standard reading for all those seeking an insight into the historical evolution of this remarkable country." Times Higher Education Supplement

"A modern account and the first to be written in ENglish since the termination of dictatorship. No international history series can be considered complete without this...edition." Library Bookwatch

Book Description

This concise, illustrated history of Portugal offers an introduction to the people and culture of the country, its empire, and its search for economic modernisation, political stability and international partnership. The first single-volume account of Portugal's history since the days of dictatorship and colonisation, this up-dated second edition brings the story up to date, and discusses the state of historical writing on Portugal at the turn of the millennium. ' standard reading for all those seeking an insight into the historical evolution of this remarkable country.'The Times Higher Education Supplement

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press; Updated edition (December 8, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0521830044
• ISBN-13: 978-0521830041
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.7 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,644,897 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Poor is a Generous Rating, October 3, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: A Concise History of Portugal (Cambridge Concise Histories) (Paperback)

I have been to Portugal many times and know quite a bit about the country's culture, it's people and history. I have to say that I must agree with most of the criticism that previous reviewers have written.

It is hard to believe that Birmingham, despite his vast experience with Portugal and things Portuguese, could have produced such a mediocre book. Parts of it are almost fictional. Too much of the information Birmingham presents is just plain wrong, particularly regarding Portugal's colonial empire in Africa. After reading this I got the distinct feeling that Birmingham has no real depth of knowledge about the Portuguese people, let alone the history of Portugal.

31 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars A book with much distorted information., July 29, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: A Concise History of Portugal (Cambridge Concise Histories) (Paperback)

I am quite familiar with Portuguese history and am truly surprised by many things Cunningham has written. He is essentially accurate about the country's early history (say BC to through the 14th century), after that, there are numerous holes and distortions. Some of what he has written is actually insulting to a remarkable group of people. The Portuguese deserve much better.

If you are interested in learning about Portugal there are some excellent history books available, auch as: Livermore's, A New Hisory of Portugal, and all of Boxer's books.

Birmingham's book is close to being dust bin material!! I can just imagine what his upcoming book on Portugal and Africa is going to be like!!

34 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars A distorted picture of the country and its history, February 19, 2004

By 

Edward Richmond (Canterbury) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Concise History of Portugal (Cambridge Concise Histories) (Paperback)

In my view, this history of Portugal gives a distorted image of the country. It stresses the country's problems and plays down its achievements. The book pictures Portugal as a country struggling to establish a place on the world scene; modernise its economy and society; and secure political stability (!). In contrast, one can not find much on Portugal's gold age of the voyages of discovery and a worldwide maritime empire in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. In fact there is not much on the first centuries of Portugal as a country. The whole book is rather biased, giving a one-sided and not particularly flattering picture of Portugal. I much prefer the more objective and well-balanced approach of 'Portugal: A Companion History, by Jose Hermano Saraiva et al.