Summary of Robert Gaudi's The War of Jenkins' Ear

By IRB Media

Get the Summary of Robert Gaudi's The War of Jenkins' Ear in 20 minutes. Please note: This is a summary & not the original book.Original book introduction: In the early 18th century, the British and Spanish Empires were fighting for economic supremacy in the Americas. Tensions between the two powers were high, and wars blossomed like violent flowers for nearly a hundred years, from the War of Spanish Succession (sometimes known as Queen Anne's War in the Americas), culminating in the War of Jenkins' Ear.

This war would lay the ground work for the French and Indian War and, eventually, the War of the American Revolution. The War of Jenkins' Ear was a world war in the truest sense, engaging the major European powers on battlefields ranging from Europe to the Americas to the Asian subcontinent.

• Language: English
• Publisher: IRB Media
• Release date: Nov 22, 2021
• ISBN: 9781638157434

IRB Media

With IRB books, you can get the key takeaways and analysis of a book in 15 minutes. We read every chapter, identify the key takeaways and analyze them for your convenience.

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Insights on Robert Gaudi's The War of Jenkins Ear

Contents

Insights from Chapter 1

Insights from Chapter 2

Insights from Chapter 3

Insights from Chapter 4

Insights from Chapter 5

Insights from Chapter 6

Insights from Chapter 7

Insights from Chapter 8

Insights from Chapter 9

Insights from Chapter 10

Insights from Chapter 1

#1

British Robert Jenkins, in 1731, was sailing in the Caribbean when his ship was stopped and searched by Spanish authorities, who suspected him of smuggling.

#2

The Spanish navy sent out its own fleet of fast, armed sloops to stop the smuggling that was inevitable after the end of the war. However, they frequently brutalized British crews and their captains, and took whatever they wanted, including the ships.

#3

The British ship the Rebecca was boarded by Spanish pirates in 1731. The pirates tortured the British captain, who eventually surrendered.

#4

The Spanish Main was full of privateers, or pirate hunters, that attacked any ship they believed to be smuggling goods between Spain and England.

#5

Despite being bound and gagged, the cabin boy continued to protest his innocence, which only enraged Fandino and his men more.

#6

The Rebecca was boarded by pirates who tortured and humiliated the captain, Thomas Jenkins, and his first mate, before leaving them for dead.

#7

The journey across the Atlantic proved to be difficult, and it took two months and many hardships for the crew to make it to the Thames River in London.

#8

Eventually, the British government decided that it was better to just let these atrocities slide than to risk war with Spain. Thus, the smuggling activities of the South Sea Company continued under the guise of the Asiento de Negros.

Insights from Chapter 2

#1

Inbreeding among the Hapsburg family resulted in the birth of Carlos II, who was deformed and possibly mentally disabled. He became king of Spain at the age of 16 and ruled until his death at the age of 55.

#2

Carlos’s tragic story is a great example of how the Spanish monarchy treated its subjects. He died young because he was never able to produce an heir.

#3

The king died a painful death from disease and malnutrition. The court physicians who examined his body after his death said that his single