1492 – America and beyond: Alessandro Barbero tells a fateful year on Rai 3
The end of the Middle Ages and the beginning of the modern age: 1492, the discovery of America, but not only. A year that Professor Alessandro Barbero tells in “1492”, the Special he wrote with David Savelli and directed by Graziano Conversano which – 530 years after the discovery of America – Rai Cultura proposes tonight, Saturday 8 October 2022, at 21.45 on Rai 3.
With the contribution of “witnesses” of the time – played by actors – and “playing” with the front pages of imaginary newspapers of the time, Barbero leads the public to discover an exceptional year. It starts with the fall of Islamic Granada, the final moment of the Reconquista by the Catholic kings Isabella of Castile and Ferdinand of Aragon, and its numerous consequences: the expulsion of the Jews, the strengthening of the Inquisition and the green light for the expedition of Christopher Columbus.
Meanwhile, in Italy, in Florence, Lorenzo de Medici died, leaving an extremely uncertain situation, with another character, like Girolamo Savonarola, in full action. And in Rome Pope Innocent VIII died, to be succeeded by the feared Spanish cardinal Rodrigo Borgia.
Meanwhile, Columbus and his crew set sail from Palos and sail into the unknown and, at the same time, the dramatic exodus of the Jews from Spain continues. All characters unaware of the numerous “historical-political storms” that are preparing, such as the descent into Italy of Charles VIII, the subsequent wars of Italy, the Protestant Reformation.
The story ends with the fateful moment in which Columbus “stumbles” in the Americas – which for him are the land of Cipango, Asia – and at the first meeting with the indigenous peoples. Since then the world will never be the same.
Witnesses to all this are the characters, large and small, to whom the actors of “1492” give voice. Like Abraham Zacuto (Bruno Santini), a great Jewish astronomer, mathematician and historian; the Spanish royals Isabella of Castile and Ferdinand of Aragon (Chiara Degani and Roberto Attias); the inquisitor Tomas de Torquemada (Daniele Aldrovandi); Beatriz Enriquez de Arana (Mariangela Arcieri), Columbus’s companion, 15 years older than her; Roderic Llançol de Borja (Martino Duane), better known as Rodrigo Borgia, from his law degree in Bologna to the papal throne.
And again, Amerigo Vespucci (Milko Cardinale), a banker with a vocation for the sea; Girolamo Savonarola (Matteo Belli), “arsonist” Florentine friar; Giacomo Rimo (Ivano La Rosa), the only Genoese sailor to embark with Columbus; and Guababo (Rodrigo Giles), an Indian of the Taino people, who lived in the Caribbean, still unaware of the fate of his people.
Streaming and tv
Where to see 1492 – America and beyond (Alessandro Barbero) live on TV and live streaming? The documentary, as mentioned, will be broadcast tonight – 8 October 2022 – at 9.45 pm on Rai 3 and Wednesday 12 October 2022 at 21.10 on Rai Storia. It will also be possible to follow it in live streaming through the free RaiPlay.it platform.
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