Why another book on the Ottomans? Scrolling through online bookstores, you can find plenty of books on the Ottomans. So why was another book on this topic necessary? The clue is in the title: ‘The Ottomans: Their Rise, Accomplishments, Decline And Their Historians’. Historians have made a great mess of the history of the Ottomans – some intentionally, some because trying to make sense of the centuries old distortions is near impossible. This work attempts to do just that.
Extracts from the book
There are countless similar observations that not only point to the neglect of the Ottoman role in mainstream historical narrative, but that also note the misuse of sources and facts by modern historians of the Ottomans. As a rule, the researcher comes across original sources whether Catholic Christian, Muslim, Byzantine, Jewish or others, agreeing on some given historical fact, yet, one also finds Western historians claiming the very opposite of such a fact. Worse, even, due to a number of influences and lobby groups within academia, however distorted such claims are, they have become the ‘established’ truth of history. [1] In many places and instances, the history of the Ottomans has become so distorted, so much opposed to original sources and facts that it barely makes any sense. The reader of such a history is often left pondering that should such a narrative be true, how could the Ottomans build an empire that endured many centuries over three continents?
Whilst we admitted the better erudition of works by good historians, both Turks and non-Turks, our work has a major distinction. It does not drown the readers in an infinity of often insipid details. Unlike other historians, we do not look at issues or matters from the narrow and excessively specific angles. We never dwell on the stories of mystics, Sufi saints, timar holders or other figures of doubtful importance; instead, we deal with Ottoman history from the widest angle. We involve the largest historical scope time-wise, involving centuries of history, and also look at the many events of central importance that shaped Ottoman history but are barely touched by other works. For instance, the Crusades (1095-1291) had an essential direct and indirect impact on Ottoman history, just like the Mongol invasions of (1219-1258); yet most historians miss that. Likewise, whilst the effects of the Catholic-Greek Orthodox conflict on Ottoman history are noted and well dealt with by some historians, [1] the overwhelming majority fails to see any connections. The Catholic-Protestant conflict also considerably impacted on the history of the Ottomans; yet this is barely, if at all, noted in the vast majority of works. [2] We do not ignore the place of Ottoman Ocean discoveries and the Christian intrusions in the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea, and just claim, like most works do, that the Turks knew little of Sea and Ocean navigation and so left it all to Westerners. Plenty of focus is given to the Ottoman-Christian conflict in the Mediterranean — a long history which is so much neglected elsewhere. We also happen to be blessed with decent knowledge of the role and place of Islamic culture and civilisation, and so we are able to see and appreciate the Ottoman place in that. Unlike in this work, and with the rarest of exceptions, Western historical narrative not only omits the Ottoman role but in many works the Ottomans are deemed to be just mere barbarians.
This book, in conclusion, is indeed aimed at raising the veil of distortions and at dealing with subjects where others have failed to reach. It has its limits and deficiencies, but it shall certainly provide a narrative of the Ottomans that makes sense, is accessible to a wider audience due to its simple and clear style, and that tells the truth.
Buy the ebook (UK)
Buy the paperback (UK)
Read for free with a Kindle Unlimited membership.
Available in all Amazon marketplaces.