Istanbul

City of Majesty at the Crossroads of the World

De: Thomas F. Madden

Narrado por: Edoardo Ballerini

The first single-volume history of Istanbul in decades: a biography of the city at the center of civilizations past and present.

For more than two millennia, Istanbul has stood at the crossroads of the world, perched at the very tip of Europe, gazing across the shores of Asia. The history of this city - known as Byzantium, then Constantinople, now Istanbul - is at once glorious, outsized, and astounding. Founded by the Greeks, its location blessed it as a center for trade but also made it a target of every empire in history, from Alexander the Great and his Macedonian Empire, to the Romans and later the Ottomans. At its most spectacular, Emperor Constantine I re-founded the city as New Rome, the capital of the eastern Roman Empire, and dramatically expanded the city, filling it with artistic treasures, and adorning the streets with opulent palaces. Around it all, Constantine built new walls, truly impregnable, that preserved power, wealth, and withstood any aggressor - walls that still stand for tourists to visit.

From its ancient past to the present, we meet the city through its ordinary citizens - the Jews, Muslims, Italians, Greeks, and Russians who used the famous baths and walked the bazaars - and the rulers who built it up and then destroyed it, including Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the man who christened the city "Istanbul" in 1930. Thomas Madden's entertaining narrative brings to life the city we see today, including the rich splendor of the churches and monasteries that spread throughout the city.

Istanbul draws on a lifetime of study and the latest scholarship, transporting listeners to a city of unparalleled importance and majesty that holds the key to understanding modern civilization. In the words of Napoleon Bonaparte, "If the Earth were a single state, Istanbul would be its capital."

©2016 Thomas F. Madden (P)2016 Recorded Books

Fabulous

Excellent book by the author of Venice : A New History. Well researched and the reader is clear.

Fascinating history

In preparation of a visit, I wanted to know more of the city’s history. This was an excellent source.

Very good history of Istanbul.

Good narration and a well detailed and thoroughly explained history of Constantinople and Istanbul through modern times.

Excellent read

Dr Madden is one of the greatest historians of this generation and Istanbul shows why: he tackles an incredibly large subject and not only competently presents a history of the city but does so in an engaging style.

Excellent content and reading!

The author is excellently unbiased in his treatment of Byzantine, Ottoman, and modern Istanbul. He provides a rich history incorporating both forest and trees, and tells the story with vibrant language. The reading is excellent as well, keeping your attention fixed the whole way. Great book to really know Istanbul!