January 2023 MBR The World History Shelf

The World History Shelf

The Ottomans: A Cultural Legacy
Diana Darke
Thames & Hudson, Inc.
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110-0017
www.thamesandhudsonusa.com
9780500252666, $39.95, HC, 288pp

https://www.amazon.com/Ottomans-Cultural-Legacy-Diana-Darke/dp/0500252661

Synopsis: One hundred years after the abolition of the Ottoman sultanate on November 1, 1922, enough time has passed to reexamine the Ottomans and reassess their legacy. "The Ottomans: A Cultural Legacy" by Diana Darke is an illustrated volume that deftly explores their unique achievements in architecture, cuisine, music, science, and medicine, as well as the political challenges they met.

The Ottoman Empire faced issues shared by modern European and Middle Eastern countries: how to maintain a balance between religious ideology and secular politics and how to promote fairness and equality among citizens in a multicultural society.

While many still equate the Ottomans with the decadence of Istanbul (extravagant architecture, harems, and hookahs) they are unaware that the secrets of Ottoman success lay in a disciplined bureaucracy and a standing army that both awed and seduced its opponents.

The Ottomans harnessed the talents of their diverse populations and quickly buttressed the crumbling edifice of Byzantine Christianity. Their dynamism and resilience helped fuse the cultures of Asia, Europe, and Africa, from the Himalayas to the Sahara, absorbing whatever impressed them, from Mongol armor to Persian tile work.

Alongside their essential rigor, they enjoyed the finer aspects of life: in music, cuisine, and art, unafraid, even as rugged fighters, to display their love of flowers and gardens, especially tulips and roses. Behind the fine robes, carpets, and ceramics on display today in their great architectural monuments, Istanbul's Topkapi Palace and Hagia Sophia, lie centuries of migration, trade, and struggle.

An original and beautifully illustrated volume, "The Ottomans: A Cultural Legacy" reveals a radically new picture of the Ottoman Empire.

Critique: Exceptionally well researched, written, organized and presented, "The Ottomans: A Cultural Legacy" by Diana Darke is informative enhanced for the reader with the inclusion of a four page Select Bibliography, five pages of Notes, a one page listing for Sources of Illustrations, and a three page Index. "The Ottomans: A Cultural Legacy" is an impressive and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, community, and academic library Ottoman History collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists.

Editorial Note: Diana Darke (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diana_Darke) is the author of Stealing from the Saracens: How Islamic Architecture Shaped Europe, which was one of BBC History Magazine's best books of 2020. Her other books include The Merchant of Syria, My House in Damascus, and The Last Sanctuary in Aleppo.

The King in the North
Gordon Noble, author
Nicholas Evans, editor
Birlinn
c/o Casemate Publishers
1940 Lawrence Road, Havertown, PA 19083
www.casematepublishers.com
9781780275512, $21.99, PB, 208pp

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-king-in-the-north-gordon-noble/1131287380?ean=9781 788851930

Synopsis: Some years ago a revolution took place in Early Medieval history in Scotland. The Pictish heartland of Fortriu, previously thought to be centred on Perthshire and the Tay found itself relocated through the forensic work of archaeologist Alex Woolf to the shores of the Moray Firth. The implications for our understanding of this period and for the formation of Scotland are unprecedented and still being worked through.

"The King in the North: The Pictish Realms of Fortriu and Ce" by Gordon Noble (and edited by Nicholas Evans) is the first account of this northern heartland of Pictavia for the non-specialist reader with an interest in the subject to take in the full implications of this and of the substantial recent archaeological work that has been undertaken in recent years.

Part of the The Northern Picts project at Aberdeen University, "The King in the North: The Pictish Realms of Fortriu and Ce" represents an exciting cross disciplinary approach to the study of this still too little understood yet formative period in Scotland's history.

Critique: Nicely illustrated throughout, "The King in the North: The Pictish Realms of Fortriu and Ce" is comprised of nine informative essays, plates, figures, a list of Abbreviations, Acknowledgments, a seven page listing of Sites To Visit, a twenty-one page listing of References, and a six page Index. Exceptionally well organized and presented, "The King in the North: The Pictish Realms of Fortriu and Ce" is a singularly recommended addition to personal, professional, college and university library Scottish Archaeology & History collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of students, academia, and the general public that "The King in the North: The Pictish Realms of Fortriu and Ce" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.49).

Editorial Note #1: Gordon Noble (https://www.abdn.ac.uk/geosciences/people/profiles/g.noble) is Senior Lecturer in Archaeology and Honorary Curatorial Fellow to the University Museums at the University of Aberdeen. He has also been director of the Rhynie Environs Archaeological Project. He is author of a number of books, including Neolithic Scotland: Timber, Stone, Earth and Fire.

Editorial Note #2: Nicholas Evans is a Research Fellow at the University of Aberdeen School of Geosciences (https://www.abdn.ac.uk/geosciences/people/profiles/nicholas.evans#about)

Military History of Late Rome 602-641
Ilkka Syvanne
Pen & Sword Books
c/o Casemate (US distribution)
www.casematepublishers.com
https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk
9781399075671, $52.95, HC, 352pp

https://www.amazon.com/Military-History-Late-Rome-602-641/dp/1399075675

Synopsis: With the publication of "Military History of Late Rome 602-641", Ilkka Syvanne provides a fresh analysis of the Roman Empire from the reign of Phocas (602-10) until the death of Heraclius (610-41).

This was an era of unprecedented upheavals which is usually considered to have resulted in the end of antiquity. The usurpations of Phocas and Heraclius led to the collapse of the Roman defenses; The Persians conquered Syria, Lebanon, Palestine and Egypt; The Avars and Slavs ravaged the Balkans; The Lombards held the upper hand in Italy; the Visigoths conquered Spain; But then happened one of the most remarkable reversals of fortune in the history of mankind. Heraclius began his holy war against the fire-worshippers. He launched a very effective counterattack against the Persians as a result of which the Romans not only defeated the Persians but actually even extended their domains at their expense, and not only this, because by 633 Heraclius was already restoring the Roman fortunes in the Balkans.

"Military History of Late Rome 602-641" revises many of the previously held views of how this took place and what actually happened. The Roman armies seemed invincible and then happened yet another great reversal of fortune -- the Muslims began their jihad to conquer the world.

Author Ilkka Syvanne provides a fresh analysis of all of these upheavals; explaining in detail why these reversals of fortune happened; what enabled the Romans to defeat the Persians; and why the Romans lost when they fought against the Muslims and, conversely, why the Muslims were so successful.

This was an era of epic campaigns and battles all of which are explained in unprecedented detail. The epic campaigns needed equally talented commanders who include, for example, Heraclius, Chosroes II Parwez, Shahrbaraz, Shahin, Abu Bakr, Umar, Abu Ubaydah, and Khalid b. al-Walid, the Sword of Allah.

Critique: Part of the seven volume 'Military History of Ancient Rome' series from Pen & Sword Books, "Military History of Late Rome 602-641" is informative enhanced with the inclusion of color plates, b/w illustrations, maps, three appendices, forty-two pages of Notes, a six page Bibliography, and an eight page Index. A fascinating, informative, thoughtful and thought-provoking history, "Military History of Late Rome 602-641" is exceptionally well written, comprehensively detailed and documented. While a critically important addition to personal, professional, community, and academic library Roman History collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists, "Military History of Late Rome 602-641" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $32.99).

Editorial Note: Currently residing in Kangasala, Finland, Ilkka Syv nne gained his doctorate in history in 2004 from the University of Tampere in his native Finland. Since then he has written extensively about ancient and medieval warfare and his publications include: 'The Age of Hippotoxotai, Art of War in Roman Military Revival and Disaster 491-636' (Tampere UP 2004), 'The Reign of Gallienus' (Pen & Sword, 2019), the multivolume 'Military History of Late Rome' published by Pen & Sword and the critically acclaimed Caracalla. He is the co-author with Professor Katarzyna Maksymiuk of the 'Military History of Third Century Iran' (Siedlce UP, 2018) and the 'Military History of Fifth Century Iran' (Siedlce UP, 2019). He was Vice Chairman of the Finnish Society for Byzantine Studies from 2007 until 2016. He has been an Affiliated Professor of the University of Haifa since 2016.

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