Anatolia

Between Byzantines and Ottomans

This book gives a general overview of the transition of Anatolia from the Byzantine Rule to the Ottoman Rule. Pivoted around the Battles of Manzikert, Kose Dag and Otlubekli, one would see a gradual slide interrupted rudely by tectonic shifts. The book is a historic chroncle of the events from the perspective of the involving kingdoms - it starts with the rule of Basil II of Byzantium and ends with the rule of Suleiman the Magnificient during whose reign Anatolia lost it's complete importance. It is no more the border province on which kingdoms fought - it's the heartland immune from all attacks. The book traces the history through the kingdoms involved in all the phases and predictably, the narration of Byzantine Empire is split to ensure it fits in the timeframes. A brief introduction is given over the Mamluks because of the role they played as suzerains of a considerable part of Anatolia. Logically, the book is divided into three phases - Manzikert and Seljuqs of Rum - the First Beylik Era, Kose Dag - the Second Beylik Era and the Ottoman Consolidation with all the kingdoms involved being discussed.