Istanbul: City of Majesty at the Crossroads of the New World

Istanbul, which was established two millennia ago, has served as a crossroads and stood as a metropolis to many empires, including the Greeks, Romans, Italians, Armenians, Ottomans, and modern Turks, yet the city has always managed to maintain an aura all its own. Taking into account commerce, civic and religious thought and practice, history, and political power, Madden (Venice: A New History) offers insights into Istanbul's long history and ability to withstand threats from outside. The book's greatest strength is its perspective on how geography has played a role in the way the rest of the world views the region though Madden also delves into the life stories of notable men and women—among them Alexander the Great, Constantine, Empress Theodora, Mehmed the Conqueror, Suleiman the Magnificent, and Mustafa Kemal Ataturk—from the city's history. Edoardo Ballerini's reading enhances the text.