Empires of the Sea

The Contest for the Center of the World

De: Roger Crowley

Narrado por: John Lee

Empires of the Sea tells the story of the 50-year world war between Islam and Christianity for the Mediterranean: one of the fiercest and most influential contests in European history. It traces events from the appearance on the world stage of Suleiman the Magnificent - the legendary ruler of the Ottoman Empire - through "the years of devastation" when it seemed possible that Islam might master the whole sea, to the final brief flourishing of a united Christendom in 1571.

The core of the story is the six years of bitter and bloody conflict between 1565 and 1571 that witnessed a fight to the finish. It was a tipping point in world civilization, a fast-paced struggle of spiraling intensity that led from the siege of Malta and the battle for Cyprus to the pope's last-gasp attempt to rekindle the spirit of the Crusades and the apocalypse at Lepanto.

It features a rich cast of characters: Suleiman the Magnificent, greatest of Ottoman sultans; Hayrettin Barbarossa, the pirate who terrified Europe; the Knights of St. John, last survivors of the medieval crusading spirit; the aged visionary Pope Pius V; and the meteoric, brilliant Christian general, Don John of Austria.

It is also a narrative about places: the shores of the Bosphorus, the palaces and shipyards of the Venetian lagoon, the barren rocks of Malta, the islands of Greece, the slave markets of Algiers - and the character of the sea itself, with its complex pattern of winds and weather, which provided the conditions and the field of battle. It involves all the peoples who border the Great Sea: Italians, Turks, Greeks, Spaniards, the French and the people of North Africa.

This story is one of extraordinary color and incident, rich in detail, full of surprises, and backed by a wealth of eyewitness accounts. Its denouement, the battle of Lepanto, is a single action of quite shocking impact - considered at the time in Christian Europe to be "a day to end all days".

©2008 Roger Crowley (P)2008 Tantor

Reseñas de la Crítica

"A masterly narrative that captures the religious fervor, brutality, and mayhem of this intensive contest for the 'center of the world'." ( Kirkus)
"Masterfully synthesizing primary and secondary sources, [Crowley] vividly reconstructs the great battles...and introduces the larger-than-life personalities that dominated council chambers and fields of battle." ( Publishers Weekly)

Great history book

I strongly suggest you download this book and THEN (I unfortunately did the opposite) download "The Religion" by T. Willocks. Both of the books are outstanding. "Empires" gives one the historical background (though it reads like a novel) and "The Religion" adds the flavor of historical fiction (one cannot help but pull for the main character Tannhauser). Oh yes, I almost forgot, John Lee could read the phone book and make it interesting.

It was really good

Wonderful storytelling well performed a great insight in history you got the perspective of the Christians and the Muslims and what they were trying to achieve

Top 5 all time Favorite Books

A war book about the battles between the Ottomans and their offensive on the Mediterranean

History told with a narrative flair

This is a great piece of history told with a real sense of narrative flair and drama that is, nonetheless, informative.

excellent history

great, theatrical-feeling account of the war of the Mediterranean. It does lack in an analysis, providing more of a chronological account of events, but does not seek to derive from accounts beyond what was written. Would make for a compelling TV series, as it is written colorfully enough to be entertaining.

Power struggle over the Med Sea in the 1500s

Good listen. Finished over a weekend. I try to read one or two history books a year and this one did not disappoint.

Great Story

I’ve tried listening to other books on this time period and found them very dry. This is a well told story of the final critical conflicts between Europe and the Ottomans filled with many “WOW! Never heard that before.” Well written and well read.

Thoroughly enjoyable

This was an absolutely wonderful book, exciting, informative, and important. It gives the reader an understanding of the struggle between Islam, under the Ottoman Turks at the height of their power, and the Catholic Christians, led primarily by the Hapsburgs of Spain, the Pope, and the Venetians.

The depictions of the battles are as evocative of the horror of war as any I have ever heard; the incredible tenacity and purpose of the Turks, the astounding resilience of the Christians, both sides calling with equal fervor on the Lord for his favor in battle; suffering, bravery and brutality all around. The book also contains stories of many men whose names I had never before heard, but whose actions had an impact on history that lasts to this day.

Some listeners may feel that, at times, the book goes into too much detail, though I did not. The reader was clear and easy to understand, well matched to the material.

Great

I really enjoyed the book. A vivid representation of historical events around the Mediterranean Sea. I couldn't stop listening.

Exceptionally Good Book

Empires of the Sea is an excellent book, well worth the credit. I found it to be interesting, informative and well written. I had no idea of the magnitude of the slave trade that was perpetuated by the Ottomans and the Barbary Corsairs from their raids of Italy and Spain. Entire populations on some islands and towns were captured and taken away into slavery. The book is actually very suspenseful as it goes into very detailed descriptions of people and soldiers undergoing a siege. The leadership of the defenders at Malta was another aspect that I found to be incredible.

I also found it interesting that the author suggests that economic impacts from gold and silver discoveries in the New World may have been one of the greatest factors in the decline of the Ottoman war machine.

Narration was top notch.

If you enjoy European history you will enjoy this book. I would also recommend the great siege by Ernie Bradford as a complementary book to this one