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

The best history book I have read in years. elegantly written, very readable and a poignant elegy for a vanished multiracial empire and city. i had not imagined before that there was much to regret about the Ottoman Empire but I was very mistaken. written with a relish for the macabre and unwholesomeaspects of a mysterious and wicked city which has now been subsumed by a modern and much less interesting istanbul.

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.

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!

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.

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