During the middle decade of the 16th century a new type of sailing vessel emerged; designed to carry the wealth of the Americas to Spain. This was the galleon; and over the next century these vessels would serve Spain well as treasure ships and warships; becoming a symbol of Spanish power and wealth during the period. The development and construction of the Spanish galleon are discussed in this book; and the ordnance and crewing needed to produce and maintain these stately vessels is covered. The author also examines the role of the galleon as a treasure ship; and describes how these ships were manned and fought in action.
#2638996 in Books imusti 2016-06-28 2016-06-28Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 7.80 x .40 x 5.10l; .81 #File Name: 1784784869112 pagesVERSO
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. More than just the titleBy A. GonzalezEdwy Plenel wrote the title "For the Muslims" in the style of Zola's "For the Jews"; which was originally written in the era of the Dreyfus Affair and was then a warning to France at that time of their Otherizing and demonization of the minority Jews [who were then accused of no really being French; harboring foreign allegiances; not being integrated; etc] and what that would lead to.Plenel writes this book in the same spirit; not so much as a defense only of French Muslims [or those of Muslim background] against racism; Otherism; etc; but as a call to defend the Republic from scapegoating and dividing itself. Plenel brilliantly points out the hypocrisies of state policies and public pressures for Muslims [and the Roma; et.al] to "assimilate". But by this it is meant that the Other must completely mask or deny their different roots and experiences. More than just the headscarf; any semblance of difference must be eradicated thin this sense of "assimilation". But with the Other by default not seen as French anyway; even if they are 3rd or 4th generation French descendants of Algerians; for example; they lose either way: they will always be seen as foreign no matter how much they try to be "French".Plenel isn't writing in any postmodernist; cultural relativist fashion here. He instead makes the case that REAL French values; namely democracy; liberty; and real secularism [laicite; which per Plenel wasn't for the state to be anti-religious but to be religious NEUTRAL]; etc.; are the real targets of this new campaign to demonize the Other. Civil liberties are very much in danger with the growth of state surveillance; and the 1% continue to trash the country almost unabated. Yet whilst liberties erode and the 1% ruin the economy; education; and development of the middle and working classes; Muslims and other Others are being used to divert attention. As part of this includes the revival of the myth of the Clash of Civilizations which is now deemed top priority by both left and right governments; at the expense of unemployment; healthcare; and education initiatives. And whilst this clash of civilizations myth is perpetuated; the state continues to fund and aid the most reactionary and fundamentalist regimes in the Mideast; namely Saudi [which France supplies much weaponry to]. All of these contradictions lead to France being at war with itself; essentially.There is more to this book than just criticism of Islamophobia [which actually takes up little of the book]. In fact; Plenel says this book could have easily been called "For the French". That may have been a better title; but the book is worth the read. No; this isn't some Islamist-apologist book or tract by a Regressive Leftist. It is a call for real universalism; secularism; and for liberty.
