Scan barcode
wdudley89's review
4.0
I chose this book hoping to learn more about the century that followed the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople and was not disappointed. The first part of the book was especially engrossing, setting the stage for the conflict between the Ottoman desire for continued westward expansion and the efforts of the Spanish kings, the Popes, and the Venetian merchants to defend their established territory. All of this played out in the Mediterranean, in a series of never ending skirmishes along the coasts and a number of decisive battles: the Ottomans first taking the island of Rhodes, then failing to take Malta, and finally suffering a massive defeat at sea that exhausted the resources of both empires. The result was an uneasy peace and a reorientation of aspirations, with the Ottomans turning to the Persians in the east and the Hungarians to the north, and the Spaniards engaging Protestant Europe and the New World. My interest waned in the middle of the book, when the descriptions of particular battles became excessively detailed. But the book picked up again at the end and left me wanting to read more: about the Crusades that preceded this period, about the Catholic-Protestant wars that followed it, about the origins of the Ottoman Empire, and about the Muslim settlement of Northern Africa.
thejdizzler's review
4.0
Very readable account of the sixty years war between the west and the Ottoman Empire in the Mediterranean. This period of history is absolutely fascinating, an intersection between the modern artillery dominated battlefields and the medieval slugfests. There was heroism and barbarism on both sides, and this conflict eerily sets up the current conflict between jihadis and the west.
Makes me want to write something inspired by Lepanto, guy Gavriel Kay style
Makes me want to write something inspired by Lepanto, guy Gavriel Kay style
aaronreadabook's review
4.0
An engaging narrative history about an area I don't know much about. Definitely want to read more about the Ottomans.
nelsta's review
adventurous
informative
fast-paced
4.5
Empires of the Sea was a surprisingly fascinating book. Perhaps it was my low expectations, but I think it had more to do with the centralized, linear storytelling and cast. The author chose to focus tightly on a handful of major events and actors in the mid-16th century. This myopic view was of immense benefit to the book, in my opinion. What Roger Crowley laid out was nothing short of extraordinary.
Crowley focuses tightly on a handful of powerful men in Spain, Italy, and the Ottoman Empire. Some of the most interesting portraits described Barbarossa (a Barbary Corsair-turned-Ottoman Admiral), Suleiman the Magnificent (quite possibly the most famous Ottoman Sultan ever), King Charles of Spain (Lawful Neutral Tyrion Lannister), and Popes (not so) Pius V and the (significantly more) Pius IV. In the book’s closing pages, I felt like this story would make an excellent HBO miniseries. It has many of the hallmarks of a hit show: epic battles for control of an entire sea, power-hungry personalities vying for control, and stalwart knights and corsairs fighting to the death for faith, king, and country. If you changed the character and location names in Empires of the Sea and said it was the basis of a new Game of Thrones spin-off, I’d believe you.
There are two events in the book that held my attention completely: the Siege of Malta and the Battle of Lepanto. The Siege of Malta occupies over half the book. Crowley explains it, it’s significance, and the events leading up to it in breathtaking detail. Yet never does it feel tedious. He moves the plot along at a sometimes dizzying pace. Suffice it to say that the chapters on the Siege of Malta are some of the most fascinating writing I have read in recent months. The equally important (at least in the eyes of Roger Crowley) Battle of Lepanto is one of history’s largest naval battles. It was of sufficient importance to Christians that it United Catholics and Protestants alike. Anything that can bridge that gap—especially in the 16th century—is worth studying.
If you like naval battles and/or medieval warfare, this needs to be a must read. If you don’t like those, this is worthy of a read anyway. It sheds some much-needed light on a war that changed history; a truly watershed moment. Empires of the Sea is very good.
Crowley focuses tightly on a handful of powerful men in Spain, Italy, and the Ottoman Empire. Some of the most interesting portraits described Barbarossa (a Barbary Corsair-turned-Ottoman Admiral), Suleiman the Magnificent (quite possibly the most famous Ottoman Sultan ever), King Charles of Spain (Lawful Neutral Tyrion Lannister), and Popes (not so) Pius V and the (significantly more) Pius IV. In the book’s closing pages, I felt like this story would make an excellent HBO miniseries. It has many of the hallmarks of a hit show: epic battles for control of an entire sea, power-hungry personalities vying for control, and stalwart knights and corsairs fighting to the death for faith, king, and country. If you changed the character and location names in Empires of the Sea and said it was the basis of a new Game of Thrones spin-off, I’d believe you.
There are two events in the book that held my attention completely: the Siege of Malta and the Battle of Lepanto. The Siege of Malta occupies over half the book. Crowley explains it, it’s significance, and the events leading up to it in breathtaking detail. Yet never does it feel tedious. He moves the plot along at a sometimes dizzying pace. Suffice it to say that the chapters on the Siege of Malta are some of the most fascinating writing I have read in recent months. The equally important (at least in the eyes of Roger Crowley) Battle of Lepanto is one of history’s largest naval battles. It was of sufficient importance to Christians that it United Catholics and Protestants alike. Anything that can bridge that gap—especially in the 16th century—is worth studying.
If you like naval battles and/or medieval warfare, this needs to be a must read. If you don’t like those, this is worthy of a read anyway. It sheds some much-needed light on a war that changed history; a truly watershed moment. Empires of the Sea is very good.
jcovey's review against another edition
5.0
Eminently readable account of a turning point in world history. Perfect mix of deeply informative and thrillingly dramatic.
ankewelt's review
4.0
This book was very interesting mostly because of how little I knew of the topic. It went through the battle with great detail which was interesting to me but might not float your boat. Overall its a four of five because I didn't find it quite at the five star level though its pretty good. I would have like to have seen a bit more for how the situation came to be but that is because I am not really into this period of history and for those who know more I presume they will find more from it. It was very interesting for me to actually read something at talk of Suleiman the Magnificent given I heard of him and his death in hungry as a living breathing individual. The big lack for me was in the lack of description of the Ottoman and Spanish empires, it only showed their conflict and leaders. I would have like to know how the bureaucracy functioned at least generally more than just centralized.
marct22's review
5.0
Truly enjoyed this book, from beginning to end! Crowley pretty much put you right in the action, describing things from both the Christian v. Ottoman sides (Christian because throughout the book, Christian response was almost always counterproductive, various factions juggling to sway things in their favor and against their fellow Christians). Never knew how often a '300' style event occurred. Once I got started, I couldn't put it down. The end was kinda weird, which is not the fault of the book, it's what happened, since after the severe loss of ships and men, the Ottoman empire quickly replaced them, but it described why it was basically the final battle even though both opponents survived intact (neglecting the heavy loss of men, ships, equipment, and money).