The vast Spanish empire of the 16th century changed the world forever, but the human story behind it has never been fully told. In this third volume of his acclaimed history Hugh Thomas chronicles the lives of those who sought to retain control over land conquered by their ancestors. As King Philip II, the ennobled descendants of the conquistadors and wealthy landowners wielded supremacy, the indigenous peoples continued to suffer at the hands of all but the most enlightened governors and estate owners. American-cut pages and felt-tip mark on lower trimmed edge.