UK edition ISBN:
Written by British historian Roger Crowley, the three fascinating books represent the magnificent history of the Mediterranean Sea during the 13-16 centuries. Constantinople: The Last Great Siege, 1453 depicts the whole process of the renowned 1453 war, namely the fall of Constantinople, the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire / Byzantine Empire. Empires of the Sea: The Final Battle for the Mediterranean, 1521-1580 records the decades-long contests between the Christian side and the Islamic side for the world centre at that time, among which the siege of Malta and the battle of Lepanto are the most famous ones. City of Fortune: How Venice Won and Lost a Naval Empire tells the expansion of the Venetian, who grew into the greatest power in the Mediterranean from lagoon dwellers. These three books have loosely composed an epic trilogy.
This trilogy impressed me very much, firstly because Crowley has achieved a remarkable goal that popularising such complex history through the vivid description. Even a new reader of the past of the Mediterranean could be easily obsessed with those intense and grand historical stories. Secondly, he accomplished the books in a relatively objective way. For instance, he spared no effort to praise the great leadership and ambition of the only 21-year-old Sultan Mohammed II of the Ottoman Empire, meanwhile fully demonstrating the bravery and unyieldingness of Constantine XI and his soldiers guarding the city.
Moreover, I was fascinated by the beautiful language of Crowley, who is not only a knowledgeable historian but also an incredible writer. Following his words, a picture of human exploration and cruelty will unfold in front of your eyes: You can see Venetian merchants raising their sails and heading towards the rosy clouds in the distance, hear the hasty sound of horns at dawn, breathe the breeze from the sapphire Mediterranean Sea – fresh, salty, sometimes mixed with the smell of blood.
Finally, for me, a book showing a sense of history is especially enchanting. After hundreds of years of competition for the Mediterranean, the centre of the world moved to the Atlantic coast, after which those previous maritime Empires declined. No empire can last forever, however, the battle among human beings will never end. I would recommend this trilogy, as I believe it will arouse your interest in history and deepen your insight into the present world.
* US editions and their ISBN:
1453: The Holy War for Constantinople and the Clash of Islam and the West; 9781401308506
Empires of the Sea: The Siege of Malta, the Battle of Lepanto, and the Contest for the Center of the World; 9780812977646
City of Fortune: How Venice Ruled the Seas; 9780812980226
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