This is an excellent survey of the crucial events in European history during the second half of the 16th Century. Phillip II of Spain and the revolt of the Netherlands naturally have pride of place in this volume, but Elliot also gives coverage to events in Scandinavia, Eastern Europe and the Meditteranean (far too many histories of Europe give excessive emphasis to western Europe at the expense of the eastern and northern parts of the continent). The chapter relating to the waxing of Spanish power is particularly exciting and well written, but then the author is an expert of this period of Spanish history. I would thoroughly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in European history.

There are shades of Gibbon's Decline and Fall in this history: even in the glorious united reign of Ferdinand and Isabella, the seeds of economic ruin and cultural implosion are sown. It's hard to get dewy-eyed about the decline of a society in which slavery, religious intolerance, warfare and racial bigotry were endemic, but it's still remarkable that for brief periods between 1492 (when the United Crowns scored the double victory of Reconquest and Columbian discovery) and the humiliating 1713 Treaty of Utrecht (ceding Gibraltar and confirming the Bourbon succession), Spain (and through Spain, the House of Habsburg) controlled the entire New World, enjoyed a limitless gold supply, fielded Europe's most-feared army and looked to the Atlantic as a virtual private lake. Despite the occasionally dry prose, this is an illuminating discussion of history's great enigmas.

This book is accessible to a general reader although it assumes some basic familiarity with European history. Without being overly long, it does a great job of cutting to the heart of matters: what were the factors that made Spain a world power in the 16th century and why did this power ultimately fall apart? Elliott concisely helps the reader to understand Spanish politics, the Inquisition, tax policy, foreign affairs, as well as social and religious tensions.

- A very useful overview, although concise and offering slanted treatment of some issues - Overall, it is well written and compelling,...a page-turner compared to other treatments of the same historical material

Being a big fan of Elliott's erudite and entertaining "Imperial Spain" I was looking forward to reading "Spain and Its World". While this latter work was worthwhile, it fell short of my expectations. The book is divided into thematic sections of uneven quality. The first section, on Spanish involvement in the New World (my particular interest) was excellent, offering the reader a variety of interesting essays. The two following sections were a bit weaker, but the last section was quite engaging. Focusing on the "decline" of Spain, a term Elliott finds too facile and blunt to explain the problems and pressures Spain faced in the 17th century, it is very strong on Spain's "Golden Age of Culture", an area obviously close to Elliott's heart. Anyone who has ever admired Velasquez's "Surrender of Breda" (the cover art for Elliott's "Imperial Spain") or "Las Meninas" can appreciate this as well.
Another area close to Elliott's heart became tiredly repetitive - his coverage of the life of the Conde Duque, or Count-Duke Olivares, who rose to power as the first minister of Philip IV in 1621. Elliott has been long fascinated by the Count-Duke and it shows in this collection of essays, as he is by far the most central character. If you are looking for details of the Count-Duke or this particular milieu of Spanish history then dig in, my friend, as you are in for a feast. If not (and I wasnt, despite the fascinating, admirable and hopeless life of this rival of Richlieu) then dont bother trying to plow through this as if it were a survey or narrative. You'll simply get worn out by much of the same information presented over and over again. But perhaps I'm being a little unfair, as it is a collection of essays and not a survey of this period of Spanish history. If you have a particular interest in some of the specific areas, you are likely to be rewarded. But be warned, it is geared for the specialist, and will remain on my bookshelf only as a reference work for specific areas of Spanish history in the 16th and 17th centuries.