The Ottoman Empire, 1700-1922

Rating:
Summary: Good Introduction to Topic
Review: Quartert provides a broad sociological history of the modern Ottoman empire. For someone who knows very little about the Ottoman empire it provided a good flavor of the cultural and socio-economic make-up of the Ottomans. While the book is academic it is very well written, organized, and very assessable to the general reader.

The one drawback to this monograph, and this is not a criticism given that this was not the intent of the book, I did not come away with a very clear picture of the political history of the empire. Of course generalizations about politics, how the state was run, and its relationships toward European powers are covered - but if you are looking for a detailed political history of the empire this not the book to pick up.

Also, while there is a very short chapter on the legacy of the Ottoman empire at the end, it left me wanting much more. Especially since the Balkans and much of the modern day states that made up the Ottoman empire are today the flash point for ethnic and religious violence, from the former Yugoslavia, Israel, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, and Iraq.

Rating:
Summary: Good Introduction to Topic
Review: Quartert provides a broad sociological history of the modern Ottoman empire. For someone who knows very little about the Ottoman empire it provided a good flavor of the cultural and socio-economic make-up of the Ottomans. While the book is academic it is very well written, organized, and very assessable to the general reader.

The one drawback to this monograph, and this is not a criticism given that this was not the intent of the book, I did not come away with a very clear picture of the political history of the empire. Of course generalizations about politics, how the state was run, and its relationships toward European powers are covered - but if you are looking for a detailed political history of the empire this not the book to pick up.

Also, while there is a very short chapter on the legacy of the Ottoman empire at the end, it left me wanting much more. Especially since the Balkans and much of the modern day states that made up the Ottoman empire are today the flash point for ethnic and religious violence, from the former Yugoslavia, Israel, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, and Iraq.

Rating:
Summary: Great Introduction into the Ottoman History
Review: This book is one of the best if not the best as an introduction into the Ottoman history. Although the period Prof. Quataert focuses is from the 18th till the first quarter of the 20th century, the first three chapters are created as an introduction to the Ottoman Empire until 1700. Overall the book is very strong in historical analysis on an introductory level. At the end of each chapter Prof. Quataert offers a list of related readings, which makes this book a great resource for advanced students of Ottoman history as well.

Rating:
Summary: A well-written book, with a refreshing viewpoint
Review: This book takes a refreshing look at the often-maligned Ottoman Empire. While it's treatment of Ottoman political history isn't anything revolutionary, it's well-presented. The book's big strength is the inclusion of several chapters on Ottoman social and economic history. Quataert writes about the importance of ordinary things like new styles in clothing, evolving ethnic/religious relations outside the political realm, and changes in the role and place of women in Ottoman society. And as for economic history, I've usually usually never found it a real page-turner, but Quataert succeeds in making it pretty interesting, no small feat.

Throughout the book, Quataert corrects some of the many negative stereotypes about the Ottoman Empire that have accumulated in the Middle East as well as in the West. Nevertheless, he does leave out mention of the three Armenian genocides between 1894 and 1915. While his effort to focus on the positive face of Ottoman history is commendable, he should have spent some time discussing the darker side of that history.

But it's a great book. In addition to the excellent text, it's also packed with excellent photographs and charts, another major plus.