former colonies, emphasizing the cultural and historical connections between the two. The opening of the book sets the tone for this expansive narrative by introducing the author's intent and purpose. Ortega Rubio expresses a desire to document the history of the Americas in light of Spain's recent loss of its colonial territories and reflects on the need to rekindle the bonds shared between Spain and Ibero-American nations. He outlines the structure of his work, indicating that it will be divided into parts covering the indigenous peoples before Columbus, the Age of Discovery, the conquests of various regions, colonial governance, and the independence movements. This thorough, reflective introduction establishes the foundation for the detailed exploration of the continent's history that follows. (This is an automatically generated summary.)