Isabella Of Aragon: The First Renaissance Queen Isabella

Isabella of Castile was put into a position where she ruled with more power than her husband. This in the fifteenth century was uncommon, but she did so with grace. Isabella of Castile: The First Renaissance Queen describes the time that she held the throne with her husband Ferdinand of Aragon. It describes the struggles of war and the challenges that were met. Nancy Rubin Stuart describes these events with much enthusiasm and accuracy. From the Spanish inquisition to the voyages of Columbus. She describes the strength of both Isabella and Ferdinand’s rule as political partners and equals.
Nancy Stuart gives us a background of Isabella right off, while at the same time telling of her crowing of Queen of Castile. During this time Nancy Stuart tends to recount times of early age of Isabella, which can often confuse or lose a reader. Several times you are having to re-read to ensure you know what age Isabella is so you know you are following the history correctly. It is not often difficult, but cumbersome. However her recount of her history prior to being crowned give you an understanding of Isabella. Nancy …show more content…
Descriptions of the land, weather and the economy in addition to multitude of battles gives a realistic understanding of Isabella’s ability to rule over a vast land with Ferdinand. However the battles tend to be described in a way that can be hard to follow without the provided maps and genealogical tables. Nancy Stuart tends to show Isabella in a good light; however her role in the Spanish Inquisition could have been more descriptive and expanded upon. Stuart does a good job of showing the relationship between Isabella and the non-Christians that reside in Spain rather well. Stuart describes Isabella’s participation in the forced conversion of Jews and Muslims well and gives a good account of the events there