Description
The fall of Constantinople in 1453 marked a pivotal moment in history, ending the Byzantine Empire. Roger Crowley’s engaging and thorough narrative of the battle between Ottoman Sultan Mehmet II and Constantine XI, the 57th emperor of Byzantium, sheds light on this critical period, which set the stage for the ongoing conflict between the West and the Middle East.
For a millennium, Constantinople was the epitome of wealth, power, and Christianity, standing as a formidable bastion against early Arab forces and later Islamic invasions. The city, always under siege, survived one every forty years on average—until Mehmet II, at just 21 years old, brought a massive army to its gates in April 1453.
Crowley’s 1453 offers a gripping account of the final battle for the city, based largely on eyewitness testimonies. Over fifty-five days, a small group of defenders held off the vast Ottoman forces in a struggle that spanned land, sea, and underground. The largest cannon ever built was used against the most powerful defensive fortifications of the time, while Ottoman ships were dragged overland into the Golden Horn. The defenders’ morale was shaken by ominous signs, and at the heart of the conflict were two visionary leaders: Mehmed II and Constantine XI, fighting not just for empire, but for their faith. The dramatic conclusion on May 29, 1453, stands as a defining moment in medieval history.
1453 is both a captivating historical narrative and an exploration of the war between Christianity and Islam—one whose consequences still resonate in the modern world.
Product details
- Publisher : Grand Central Publishing; Illustrated edition (August 15, 2006)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 328 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1401308503
- ISBN-13 : 978-1401308506
- Item Weight : 2.31 pounds
- Dimensions : 5.3 x 1.15 x 8 inches
- Condition: Used-Fine
Tags#: History, Nonfiction, Religion, Medieval, War, Islam, European History, World History, Medieval History, Military History,
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