1. I am currently reading, but am enjoying the various perspectives as well as economic/political situations that led up to the great battle.
   Rating: 4 / 5

2. Can’t give a persona; opinion because it ws purchased aas a gift for my son. However, he is enjoying it very much.

   It was in excellent condition.
   Rating: 5 / 5

3. Excellent book/can’t recommend it enough. Covering a seminal event, the fall of Constantinople, with excellent narrative. Hard to put down from beginning to end. History at its best.

   Rating: 5 / 5

4. Roger Crowley explains in depth that masked as a holly war the siege of Constantinople was in fact a war for the inheritance of the Roman Empire. The inner motive of the campaign was to build a world empire, to establish a super power. Like most of the wars in history and today the real reason was political, economical and strategical rather than religious. Enjoy reading
   Rating: 5 / 5

5. I’ll give this book 3 stars out of charity, and because it may succeed as a work of popular history; indeed, most readers will be satisfied with it.

   I can’t write an exhaustive review, because I quit reading at p.32,when Crowley says that “the Ottomans ruled their subjects with a light hand. . . . No attempts were made to convert Christians . . .” etc. Ask anyone who’s lived under Ottoman rule,if you can still find one of these venerable folk, or talk to their descendants. You’ll get a different picture of the situation. Crowley himself describes some of the horrors of the siege, inflicted by these “tolerant” Muslims.

   It is true that some Ottoman officials developed a liberal laissez-faire attitude toward the Christians–either out of Levantine indolence or practical intelligence: why harass honest and industrious people? Plus, they pay taxes through the nose. And even Sultan Mehmed II was lenient towards the Christians once he had established his rule. Still, the many horrors remain.

   If I’d been at home while reading this book, I would have thrown it across the room. As it was, I was in the car and merely commented on the nonsense to my companions.

   Gentle reader, if you really want to learn about the Fall of Constaninople, read Runciman, or Sir Edwin Pears, if you can find his book. Also, the translations of the chronicles of the time.
   Rating: 3 / 5

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