Giancarlo Casale

I probably would have enjoyed this more if I had not listened to it as an audio book. The subject matter and narration are a bit too densely packed with information for simply listening to while driving. Regardless of the density, the book is a fascinating re-evaluation of the Ottoman Empire's role in the world theater during the Age of Discovery (mainly the 16th century) and notes the strong role they came to play in the early colonial conflicts within the Indian Ocean. Casale argues that the Ottomans were not victims of European expansion during this period, but were in fact key players and benefited greatly from this age of conquest and trade. This stands in opposition to the all too common narrative of the 'Sick man of Europe' and should be read by anyone interested in a refreshed assessment of this important era in history.… (meer)