1521-1580, The Final Battle for the Mediterranean

This is a wonderfully written telling of a history that is absolutely essential to understanding our own time. The siege of Malta, the sea battle of LePonto and the history of Mediterranean slavery are all carefully detailed here. It's a story not many people know & it's riveting.

I enjoyed reading this book so much, I felt almost guilty about it. I'm a professor, and should probably be wading through stuff with more sociological analysis than blood and guts, more ideological innuendo than arquebuses and point-blank grapeshot. But what a welcome change it was! Crowley is no lightweight, though, even if he does ramp up his battle-scene language a little too often; his descriptions of events, persons and places are highly illuminating, and had me reaching for the maps (and, on one occasion, Google Earth) to stay with him. The whole book is gripping stuff from start to finish. As someone who has joined in the almost universal excoriation of sixteenth-century Spain for its atrocious treatment of marranos and moriscos, I was given pause for thought by Crowley's account of the Morisco Revolt of 1567-70; in combination with the incessant raids by Moorish slavers, guided by renegades and Moors with local knowledge, upon Spanish coasts, it seems that the Spanish authorities did, at least, have something to be paranoiac about. Christendom hung on by the skin of its collective teeth -- not just at the gates of Vienna, but in the heart of the sea. This hugely entertaining and informative book brings home what a near-run thing it all was.

This was an exceptional book of history. I found myself sitting up well past midnight in order to reach the end of a major section. Gripping and extremely informative. I would recommend it with enthusiasm. Two other excellent books helped lay a groundwork for my appreciation of this work. Norwich's 3 volume Byzantium is an exceptional piece of work. When I reached the end, I was wishing for a fourth volume. Short of that, Mansel's excellent Constantinople picks up where Norwich leaves off and completes the history through the end of the Ottoman empire. For anyone wishing to have a sweeping sense of the important history of the eastern Mediterranean, I can recommend all these volumes with gusto.

That, in my view, is how history should be written. I found the book difficult to put down, and when I finished, I wanted to read more, much more, on that part of history and on history in general. And, first of all, to read all the books by the same author because one is assured of quality reading. Among other things, the author's language is a reason in itself for reading his books: elegant but not in the least pretentious. All in all, it was an experience difficult to surpass.

As an historian myself, I am ever so impressed with Crowley's work. First of all his research is impecible: thorough, unbiased, and well documented. This is the core of any historical research, and it is a level that few achieve. But beyond this is the literary aspect of the work, and in this Crowley is amongst the very small number of historians who can not only research history - but also write. In his opus, Empires of the Sea, he has produced a real "page turner" - a serious historical work that reads like a novel. Moreover, he asks all the right questions and attempts to place the conflict of the 16th century in the light of the present world.

This book reads less like a history book and more like an epic narrative. The author has a wonderful ability to take a step back and paint for you a broad picture of the historical events that defined and shaped both the Ottoman Empire and the Christian Mediterranean countries.

Good pace and great information. This was written for lovers of history but not scholars. I really liked how it discussed the events from both perspectives. There was a clear attempt to remain unbiased.

Despite occasional slips in syntax, or flubs like calling Tamerlane a Mongol (which he was not), the author ploddingly, meticulously, exhaustively, with splendid scholarship and lovingly precise research, reconstructs the sixteenth century phenomenon of the clash in the Mediterranean Basin, as well as the errors in both the Ottoman and Christian attitudes and strategies; and the outcome: the subsequent isolation, though for different reasons, of both Spain and the Muslims, their failure to evolve and emerge renewed, as well as the forging of the template for the periodic and inescapable fact of globalization, which effectively, in the end, undermines the insular.
Crowley's prose is largely measured and scrupulous, in this excellent book, as respectful as it is knowledgeable, a delight to read, and rewarding as well, rich with information, anecdotes and salient asides, though occasionally flawed. Another minor slip. The author implies that Madrid, in 1530, was the capital of Spain, which it was not. Valladolid was the seat of Spanish government and Carlos V's capital until his son, Philip II, moved it in 1561, and so it remained, except for an interlude between 1601 to 1606 in which the Court of Philip III returned to Valladolid.
The Mediterranean tug-of-war between Carlos I of Spain (Carlos V of Austria, among others of his many titles, including, and at great cost and conniving, Holy Roman Emperor), and Suleiman the Lawgiver, the Magnificent, sultan supreme of the Ottoman Turks, master of their capital in Istanbul on the Bosphorus, evolved as both a Holy War and a struggle for European supremacy, yet is rarely treated, as in this book, with such clarity and detail. The ransacking and depredation of both human and natural resources for the construction and handling, arming and maneuvering, of vast and mostly useless galley fleets, reminds us of the futility, the ego and stupidity, and the ridiculous waste, of most of Europe's sixteenth century history, which thanks to the Ottomans also extended south into Africa.
Crowley, however, another bone of contention, refers persistently to the North African "Mahgreb", which means "West" and applies to the Northwest of Africa, ending in the jagged coast that juts into the wind-thrashed Atlantic, beyond the pillars of Hercules, but he never clarifies the fine point: the Ottoman sphere of influence encompassed the so-called Barbary Coast as far as Algiers, and while it included Tripoli and Tunis, Morocco is actually very proud of the fact of its purity, strictly Arab and Berber, with the absence of any Turkish presence.
P.S. If anyone is interested Tamerlane (or Timur) was an enterprising Turkic shepherd lad, born April 8, 1336 in Shahrisabz, Uzbekistan (I was there and have the pictures to prove it), who ingratiated himself with the Mongol leader and married his daughter, thus coming to head the army and essence of the Eastern Persian Empire, from his capital in Samarkand. After his death in 1405 his son Shah Rukh (ruled 1405-1447), despite disputes and divisions, headed the exquisite and cultivated Timurid Dynasty and moved the capital to Herat, in what today is northern Afghanistan, where painting, poetry, architecture and music flourished and prospered, until Timur's distant descendant Babur moved the Mogul, or Mughal, Dynasty to its final and culminating glory in northern India.

MAGNIFICENT book on the everlasting clash between Europe and Islam. Why doesn't Hollywood make a movie out of this book? It would be great entertainment and highly educational. It reminded me of Warner Bros' 300 movie. Different era same issue.

A simply wonderful book! I was totally unaware of the siege of Malta and found Mr. Crowley's thorough description both enlightening and fascinating. Lepanto and Cyprus were also revelations. I never realized the extent of the Ottoman vs. Christian struggle in the middle ages. One of those books that stays with you - I read it four years ago yet think of it often.

I previously read Crowley's book 1453 about the Ottoman conquest of Istanbul (at that time of course Constantinople after Constantine).

I discovered two things. One thing is a fantastic account of how Mehmet the Conqueror was able to marshall his forces towards final conquest by the Ottomans (well almost) of the crown jewel of the Byzantine Empire. The second was the discovery on how good a writer Roger Crowley is. He was able to capture (pun intended) this history in an exciting way.

This book, if you will, is like a second volume as it concerns the Ottoman conquests of the Mediterranean. This is a very exciting account of the years around 1500 when both Mehmet and then his son were trying to gain control of the Med, through sieges in Rhodes, then Lepanto and the Adriatic Sea in modern day Greek and Yugoslavian waters.

The book is easily read and becomes a book you want to keep on reading because it is not a dry account of dates and places but a living account of the events being described. Crowley makes the events interesting and vital. I learned about the men involved in a compelling way.

I have purchased City of Fortune (about Venice during a similar time period), and look I forward after that to reading his new book about Portugal's conquests - both driven by Ottoman expansion in a way so all books are related. He is a very good writer with a gift for bringing history alive. You can't ask for more.

A historical key to understanding the importance of the Mediterranean naval battles in regards of who and what we are today. Western civilization would not have existed but for the few and brave "Marines" that held Malta from the Muslim forces.

It is an excellent, engaging, and exciting narrative history of one of the world's greatest conflicts. Primary source material is used liberally to provide authority and accuracy, but is introduced and explained an easily digestible manner.

I bought this because it was inexpensive as it is a part of history that I don't read much about. The writing is superior and it makes for a real page turner. I would highly recommend this book, but be advised it is very hard to put down.

Clear story line, a good explanation of the politics of the time, and an effective narrative of sieges and battles. Illuminating descriptions of the principal characters. An easy and interesting read.

A superb history of the politics, personalities and wars of the Mediterranean of the 16th century, culminating in the iconic battle of Lepanto. I've read good novels that were less enthralling than this history book.

Totally enjoyed this book, the third by this author that I have read in the last month. His intense research is presented in an easy to follow format which keeps the reader anxiosly looking forward to each next chapter.

If you have never read anything about all the intrigue surrounding who controls the Mediterranean in the 16th century, then you will love this book. Crowley does an excellent job of weaving the background and the characters into a very viewable tapestry. Having read some accounts by Ernle Bradford and others, there are some elements that make his account a little flat. For some reason, Crowley seemed to discount historical sources if they were Christian. Not sure if he saw some unwarranted bias there or if the bias was on his part (which I suspect) but when you compare his account of Malta with Bradford's you will see the poverty very quickly. Still, the book is an excellent and informative read.

Totally enjoyed this book, the third by this author that I have read in the last month. His intense research is presented in an easy to follow format which keeps the reader anxiosly looking forward to each next chapter.

If you have never read anything about all the intrigue surrounding who controls the Mediterranean in the 16th century, then you will love this book. Crowley does an excellent job of weaving the background and the characters into a very viewable tapestry. Having read some accounts by Ernle Bradford and others, there are some elements that make his account a little flat. For some reason, Crowley seemed to discount historical sources if they were Christian. Not sure if he saw some unwarranted bias there or if the bias was on his part (which I suspect) but when you compare his account of Malta with Bradford's you will see the poverty very quickly. Still, the book is an excellent and informative read.

As with 1453, Crowley has shown both his brilliant research and skillful, entertaining prose. The book reads as quickly as a novel and gives life to its characters. From the Barbary pirates, to the Knights of Malta, to the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, each group has its heroes and villains and Crowley allows them to live again in these pages. A great read for both raw historians and anybody interested in this crucial time in history.

This is one of the most gripping history (I guess historical fiction as he takes many liberties) books I've read. Very interesting period in history and engaging book. Note I did suggest to a co-worker who felt it was "too bloody" so I guess it's not for everyone.

Mr. Crowley has achieved a remarkable level of excellence with this book. It is addictive as a thriller or an action best seller yet it deals with real historical events that are made easy and extremely interestiing to read. The facts and events are very well presented and the link among them and the way they are described creates a real need to "keep on reading" to discover what did actually happened next. It is an excellent book to learn History without effort and in a very pleasant way. Prepare for an intensive reading experience: once you start it will be difficult for you to stop until you reach the last page.

I really enjoyed experiencing and understanding those many tumultuous years across the Mediterranean. Intrigue, spies, brutal piracy, Knights, siege, beheadings galore, individual courage and cowardice that changed history, Kings versus Sultans, and the massively unpredictable and destructive sea. The clash of Islam and Christianity. Stunning history. Great author!

This book is one of my favorites. The descriptions of the battles, sieges, preparations and political movements are terrific. An amazing historical overview book while still showing you individual engagements, tactics and what its like to live in that time period. I love this book!

The book was very informative and the writing style 'dynamic'. Perfect for a person who likes history but is not a historian. I will look for more history books written by Roger Crowley.
Thank you,
Susy

~History well researched, written as a suspense novel maintaining the readers interest. A wonderful and thought provoking book that stimulates the reader to delve deeper into the historical perspective.~

I first read, and revued, the Great Siege of Malta. It begins about 30 years previously and tells about the fight for control of the Mediterranian coastal areas. Not always the history that is taught in schools.

Opened a book to discover a history unknown to me.No, the world did not begin with WW1.The Mediterranean has never been so fought over where the weak coilition of Europe certainly had it's hands full with the Islamic foes of the east!