Ferdinand and Isabella

This book shows how Ferdinand and Isabella exercised power at work as a ruling couple, probably unique in European history, with a heady mixture of culture and intolerance. 2004 is the anniversary of Isabella's death. It focuses on powerful personalities, which had an impact on whole societies in Europe and America. The combination of the exercise of power with royal and religious ideology. Its focus on the often painful interaction between Christians, Jews and Muslims - and their respective religions: this is highly topical, as is the whole region.

John Edwards is a Research Fellow in Spanish at the University of Oxford.