These kind of reading lists coming from professional teachers for the lay reader are very welcome. Perhaps the author of the article with his genial spirit and generosity ought to consider a scripted narrative podcast called History of the Ottomans without any gaps organised by the chronology of rulers but allowing for deep dives in matters social, economic, cultural, where merited…
Thank you very much for your interest and your kind words, I appreciate it.
Your suggestion is definitely welcome. I have actually been thinking of designing a course on the history of the Ottoman Empire and offering it for anyone interested here on Substack. It’s still a vague idea, so I wouldn’t call it a definite plan, but I would love to do it if I could find the time and resources. I’ll let you know about any updates.
Thanks for posting this. It's really useful and I have put all 5 of them on my to-read list.
I am curious about Findley's book. You say it is "modeled on Bernard Lewis’s classic *The Emergence of Modern Turkey*". How do the two books compare and why is it worth reading this one over Lewis's? I don't really know the details of either enough to choose between them, if I were to only read one for the foreseeable future.
I would definitely go with Findley’s book rather than Lewis’s. I think Lewis’s book is pretty dated by this point. Findley draws on years of new research and makes a compelling argument that gives a good explanatory framework for understanding the late Ottoman Empire and early modern Turkey.
Really enjoying your Substack, Doga! Any recommendations for two curious kindergarteners? They’re super into the medieval period and I’d like to expand our lens.
That’s an absolutely great question. Unfortunately, I don’t know the answer to that. My guess is there is probably not much written about Ottoman history for kids at the kindergarten stage, especially not in English, but I’m not sure. I’ll need to check it out. Maybe there is a market in there somewhere!
Thank you! I'm actually studying Turkish right now and I've become increasingly interested in the Ottoman Empire as I encounter (alas, only on the written page) English travellers who went to this part of the world when most people never left their birthplace.
Yes, a lot of English travelers visited the Ottoman lands from the 16th/17th century onwards and they left behind a good amount of memoirs, detailing their voyage. They were not always very accurate, to say the least, but still, they contain valuable information and can be a good resource.
1) Eyal Ginio, The Ottoman Culture of Defeat: the Balkan Wars and their Aftermath
2) Hakan Yavuz and Isa Blumi (eds), War and Nationalism: the Balkan Wars, 1912-1913, and Their Sociopolitical Implications. —> This one is an edited volume so there are articles in it on different aspects of the Balkan Wars.
Thanks Doga, I'm loving this Substack, and the list is most useful. During the Balkan War,my grandfather had a Turk surrender to him. He knew some English and they smoked granddad's tobacco while chatting. The Turkish soldier was a conscript and had already served his 25 years, but no sign of release., he had no boots just rags tied to his boots. He was sent to England and opted to stay after the war, and started a business. He eventually got his wife and his grown sonx over. Every year they came to Devon, d they missed grandad. The wife used to bring wonderful Turkish sweets that she made and sold in her husband's shop. My grandfather died at 95, but Bar(las) was gone then as he was considerably older, but his sons visited until the year grandad died. The used to say grandad had saved Bar's life, and they wouldn't have been there otherwise.The women in the family used to tell me about their culture and lives. Hence, my interest now,which I hope will go on growing.
These kind of reading lists coming from professional teachers for the lay reader are very welcome. Perhaps the author of the article with his genial spirit and generosity ought to consider a scripted narrative podcast called History of the Ottomans without any gaps organised by the chronology of rulers but allowing for deep dives in matters social, economic, cultural, where merited…
Thank you very much for your interest and your kind words, I appreciate it.
Your suggestion is definitely welcome. I have actually been thinking of designing a course on the history of the Ottoman Empire and offering it for anyone interested here on Substack. It’s still a vague idea, so I wouldn’t call it a definite plan, but I would love to do it if I could find the time and resources. I’ll let you know about any updates.
Hi Doga
Which one is best for background on the Phanariots ?
Thanks for the reading list - looks interesting
Joanna
Hello Joanna.
Here is a book that talks about the Phanariots to a great extent.
https://www.ucpress.edu/books/biography-of-an-empire/paper
And here is a talk with the author
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkVUfCAFRus
Thanks v much
Loved Imber's book, it wasn't overly long, but gave an excellent and concise description of all the subjects it covered.
Yes, it’s a great introductory text for Ottoman history.
Thanks for posting this. It's really useful and I have put all 5 of them on my to-read list.
I am curious about Findley's book. You say it is "modeled on Bernard Lewis’s classic *The Emergence of Modern Turkey*". How do the two books compare and why is it worth reading this one over Lewis's? I don't really know the details of either enough to choose between them, if I were to only read one for the foreseeable future.
Thank you in advance :).
Sorry for the very late response.
I would definitely go with Findley’s book rather than Lewis’s. I think Lewis’s book is pretty dated by this point. Findley draws on years of new research and makes a compelling argument that gives a good explanatory framework for understanding the late Ottoman Empire and early modern Turkey.
Hope this helps!
No worries, I appreciate you answering and I will definitely read Findley's book :).
Really enjoying your Substack, Doga! Any recommendations for two curious kindergarteners? They’re super into the medieval period and I’d like to expand our lens.
Thank you very much Ashley, I appreciate it!
That’s an absolutely great question. Unfortunately, I don’t know the answer to that. My guess is there is probably not much written about Ottoman history for kids at the kindergarten stage, especially not in English, but I’m not sure. I’ll need to check it out. Maybe there is a market in there somewhere!
Thank you! I'm actually studying Turkish right now and I've become increasingly interested in the Ottoman Empire as I encounter (alas, only on the written page) English travellers who went to this part of the world when most people never left their birthplace.
Congrats with the Turkish learning.
Yes, a lot of English travelers visited the Ottoman lands from the 16th/17th century onwards and they left behind a good amount of memoirs, detailing their voyage. They were not always very accurate, to say the least, but still, they contain valuable information and can be a good resource.
I hope you enjoy the articles on my Substack.
This is really helpful. Could you also recommend some books on the Balkan Wars 1912-1913?
Sure, here are two books that come to mind:
1) Eyal Ginio, The Ottoman Culture of Defeat: the Balkan Wars and their Aftermath
2) Hakan Yavuz and Isa Blumi (eds), War and Nationalism: the Balkan Wars, 1912-1913, and Their Sociopolitical Implications. —> This one is an edited volume so there are articles in it on different aspects of the Balkan Wars.
Thks, just a comment I never find the Notes on SB…
Yes, don’t use Notes
You mean you don't use Notes? Am I understanding you correctly?
Thanks Doga, I'm loving this Substack, and the list is most useful. During the Balkan War,my grandfather had a Turk surrender to him. He knew some English and they smoked granddad's tobacco while chatting. The Turkish soldier was a conscript and had already served his 25 years, but no sign of release., he had no boots just rags tied to his boots. He was sent to England and opted to stay after the war, and started a business. He eventually got his wife and his grown sonx over. Every year they came to Devon, d they missed grandad. The wife used to bring wonderful Turkish sweets that she made and sold in her husband's shop. My grandfather died at 95, but Bar(las) was gone then as he was considerably older, but his sons visited until the year grandad died. The used to say grandad had saved Bar's life, and they wouldn't have been there otherwise.The women in the family used to tell me about their culture and lives. Hence, my interest now,which I hope will go on growing.
Can you recommend anything about Sufism during the Ottoman period?