Constantinople : City of the World's Desire, 1453-1924

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Summary: A Gold Mine of Useful Trivias...
Review: As someone regarding himself learned in Turkish History, I learnt quite a few things which I would have found suspicious had I heard them in casual conversation. For instance, did you know that

- Greek Patriarchy, probably the most significant symbol of Greek national pride, having been closed by Venetians in 1204, was reinstated by Turks after the conquest?

- some members of the last Greek dynasty converted to Islam?

- the conquering Army of Islam had a sizable portion of Christians(Serbians, Hungarians)?

- in 1515, the movable printing press was banned exclusively from the Muslim population?

...

The list goes on and on and on... So my advice to you: If you like history as a teacher, buy this book, you won't regret it!

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Summary: Very smooth reading!
Review: Delectable in fact, one of my favorites for good solid Ottoman history. A really good place to start if your interested.This book helps Constantinople take shape so that you will understand why she is still the world's desire.

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Summary: Excellent!
Review: I approached this book with some suspicion, principally because of Cormack's review, and also because of Mansel's earlier book "Sultans in Splendour" which is a disaster. However, "Constantinople" captivated me. Anyone interested in Ottoman history, in Istanbul's history, social structure and architecture, must read this book. Mansel was able to write a history book imminently readable and enjoyable. Yes, he is somewhat dismissive of Braudel and Edward Said, but he presents his material cogently and intelligently. One of the most enjoyable books I read in a while, and one which I wish I could have read before visiting this glorious city. For anyone visiting Istanbul, this is a book to take along with the travel guide

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Summary: City With a Thousand Husbands
Review: Mansel has done an excellent job in attempting the daunting task of telling the story of this magnificient city, jewel of the world, and my very own town.

It only covers the period from the conquest of Istanbul in 1453 to 1924, the final days as the seat of an empire. Even someone with a good knowledge of the city and its history will be very impressed with the monumental amount of reasearch done and countless details accumulated. He has captured the glory as well as the feeling of decay of this grand old town well. Last days of the Ottoman Empire, having outlasted Russia and Austria-Hungary, two powers who fought bitterly to topple the "sick man of Europe", is still one of the most dramatic stories of the last century. It is hard to imagine a more rich setting than where Empires rub elbows and East meets West.

To be sure, this book is only about Istanbul/Constantinople, and not about Ottoman Empire. It is written strictly from the point of view of Europeans and non-muslims. Heavy reliance on diplomatic correspondence, memoirs of ex-ambassadors and diplomats is obvious. These are excellent resources, as translations of original Turkish works dealing with period are rare and not many have focused on the seat of the Empire itself in any case.

His tracking of well known families of Istanbul, Genovese, Venetian, Greek, Armenian, Arab, Jewish and Turkish, from medival times to modern times was most interesting and unique. It highlights the truly global nature of the city and the rich multicultural heritage of the Ottomans.

In the book, fortunes of Istanbul have been followed by the moods of Pera, the nest of all delightful and sinful. Beyoglu still has the reputation as the place where boys become men.

What feels like a gaping hole is a lack of investigation of the origins of the Muslim version of the name of the city, Istanbul. So much has been said, so many theories spinned, it would have been nice to include an expert's rendition. There is also a general lack of emphasis on the Muslim portion of the population. Mansel never ventures into their neighborhoods and one never gets a picture of the role Istanbul plays in the hearts and minds of the non-Christian masses.

The book is well written and well organized. Critiques can always find a missing aspect as it is impossible to cover all that is interesting about Istanbul in one book. It is definiteley not for the light-hearted and the sea of details can be overwhelming for someone not very familiar with region's history. I recommend it as one of the better and more serious books on the topic.

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Summary: Highly recommended
Review: Mansel takes diverse facts and weaves them into a magic Turkish carpet that takes the reader back to the Ottoman captial; one can easily see and hear the way the city was. With chapter titles like "Harems and Hamams", Viziers and Dragomans", and "Cushions of Pleasure", one sees the city from different views as it moves forward in time. A complex and fascinating city, a well done book.

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Summary: Is this a good book?
Review: Philip Mansel has done a fine job in describing the architecture, the pageantry, the intrigue and opulence surrounding the Sublime Porte from the Ottoman conquest in 1453 to the abolition of the Sultanate in 1924. Constantinople was unique among great cities in bridging two continents and successfully assimilating disparate cultures, and Mansel is particularly skillful in his treatment of the city's cultural history.

However, Mansel is on less sure ground in explaining Constantinople's unique place in European diplomatic history. The Ottoman Empire began its long period of decay in the 18th century. That it survived until the 1920s was due not so much to the military prowess or economic power of the Ottomans, but to the Empire's critical geographic position in blocking entrance of the increasingly powerful Russians to the Mediterranean Sea. At different times, Britain and France, Austria and Prussia were all interested in forestalling Russain irredentism. The complex of varying alliances and relatively minor wars (such as the Crimean War, the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-78, and the Balkan Wars of the early 20th century) came to be described under the general rubric of "the Eastern Question". Mansel's treatment of the Eastern Question is weak and the reader may be left wondering how Constantinople was able to survive, free of foreign control, as long as it did.

Mansel is also less at home with economic questions. The Ottoman Empire was essentially bankrupt from 1875, and, from 1881, foreigners -- chiefly the French and English -- managed Ottoman finances through the Ottoman Public Debt Administration. Mansel pays scant attention to this important development and provides little insight as to how economic problems contributed to the demise of Constantinople.

Still, for the general reader, Mansel's book provides much of interest about this fascinating city. It is well written and contains a helpful bibliography for those interested in further study. For those interested in more scholarly treatments of the Ottoman Empire, the works of Bernard Lewis and Stanford Shaw will provide excellent starting points.

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Summary: fascinating book
Review: really fascinating book..the kind of book I like..a perfect combination of history and narration...and being a Greek..the fact that this book hides nothing about the Greek presence in Constantinople since the creation of the city and till the extinction of the minority in the mid 50's- early 60's..is a fact that I really appreciate. thanks

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Summary: MULTICULTURAL HISTORY OF CONSTANTINOPLE AND GRIEF
Review: The book starts off telling the story from the very beginning of the conquest of the city by the Ottoman Empire in 1453. Surprisingly the muslim sultan, Mehmet the II protects the multicultural structure of the city. In fact he improves it. In a short time the city grows up with dozens of different ethnic groups. Each citizen was speaking at least three languages on the street of the Constantinople. Even though the empire was sinking in the 19th century at least a dozen of newspapers were being published in ten different languages. This magnificency unfortunately goes down deeper and deeper as the empire goes down more. That harmony leaves itself to mutual massacres. With the establishment of the Turkish Republic minorities are expelled and the city that hosted dozens of ethnic groups as a capital city dies off with the declaration of Ankara as a new capital city. Constantinople becomes Istanbul. Tough it remains as the biggest city of Asia Minor, now it is too far from her multicultural, multicolorful days. The book tells the tragic story of a big city with interesting historical information as well. A must to buy.

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Summary: WHATEVER YOUR HEART DESIRES...
Review: This book is a wonderful social and cultural history of the Ottoman Empire. The author provides a lot of fascinating tidbits about all aspects of life in the city. This is both enlightening and entertaining and underneath it all Mr. Mansel wants to make an important point: this is a place where East meets West; a place where, much of the time, different religions and different cultures have been able to live in peace, side by side. This has obviously not always been the case- but when during human history can you cover a span of 500 years and not find conflict?

After 1453, Jews were encouraged to immigrate from Europe. This was not a policy based on humanitarian considerations. It was based on economic considerations. But, still, it was done. In contrast to western Europe, "there were no restrictions on freedom of trade and few limits on the construction of synagogues. Jews soon flourished...After the first decades, their history is that rarity in Jewish history, a happy story. In Constantinople the words pogrom, ghetto, inquisition had no meaning."

Mr. Mansel deals with many interesting topics. Some examples:

Marriage and the relations between men and women: "For a rich heterosexual male with a taste for variety, however, Constantinople could be a paradise. Some changed wives frequently or, like the Sultan, purchased large numbers of female slaves."

Food: "Vegetables were the glory of Ottoman cuisine, prepared with a subtlety rarely devoted to them in other countries. Some dishes, especially those based on the 'king of vegetables', the aubergine, required days of preparation. Two sets of vegetables were served at meals: cold vegetables cooked in oil and hot vegetables cooked in butter."

Alcohol: "The prohibition of alcohol was the Muslim tradition least observed in Constantinople. Jews imported wine from Germany and Spain, but the most popular was the sweet wine of the Aegean islands, such as Samos or Crete, celebrated since classical times."

The cosmopolitan nature of the city: "Constantinople had become a way of life-the only city to be both resort and capital, Bath and London, Spa and Paris. The shared pleasures of food, wine, music, the tavern, the coffee-house and the Bosphorus, united Muslims and non-Muslims."

If this book has a weakness it is that, perhaps, at times it tries to cover too many topics. I think it works best as a cultural and social history. However, in the last 150-200 pages Mr. Mansel switches gears and the book delves mostly into the murky world of politics- both national and international. The reader who is looking for a social history might be bored by the last third of the book. The political scientist might not enjoy the first 300 pages or so. But, Mr. Mansel picked a very difficult story to tell and he is to be congratulated for doing a very fine job overall.