City of Fortune: How Venice Ruled the Seas

I had been exploring the history of the Ottoman Empire right up to its fall as a result of the first world war. In the process I discovered that the Ottomans and Venice were engaged in a power struggle for several hundred years. Having recently visited Venice and its museums last November I was also intrigued by how this small enclave had been so powerful in the past. As a result of these issues I was looking forward to reading this book.I was not disappointed. It is well written and very easy to read. It filled in many gaps in my knowledge of history. It was also interesting to discover the extent to which the 4th Crusade was a major contributor the the decline of the Byzantine empire and the ultimate fall of Constantinople to the Ottomans. The fact that that crusade mainly ended up targeting christian city's that were regarded as competition by Venice was also enlightening as was Venice's constant war with Genoa .A well written fascinating book.

I primarily read this book to flesh out my understanding of the sack of Contantinople during the fourth crusade. Most books with a Byzantine focus seem to imply that it all fell on Enrico Dandolo; the wily old Doge with a grudge. This book does an outstanding job of giving intimate details of the fourth crusade. Crowley weaves together the intrigues, politics, and attitudes that led to this seminal event in Venetian (and Christian) history. The attack on Constantinople and the sack of the city are given in great, almost painful detail.What I found more fascinating is the after effects of the fourth crusade. How Venice controlled key islands in the Aegean that corresponded to their economic and strategic goals. It was all about trade by sea, and it is absolutely amazing to realize how focused the Venetians were. I think Crowley does a good job of demonstrating that Venice was the protoype for global economic thinking.He also demonstrates convincingly that Venice was also the prototype for colonialism backed by naval power. No, they did not always treat their subject states well since the goals were economic and strategic.Finally, the incremental rise of Ottoman sea power is contrasted with the slow decline of the Venetian state as the dominant naval power. I think Crowley did a great job in showing how the forgotten battles such as Negroponte had a huge impact on the morale and identity of Venice.My only complaint is the ending of the book. It is almost as if Mr. Crowley assumes that the reader's history must be adequate enough to know what happens next. The implication being that Venice continues to decline ultimately resulting in the horses of St. Mark's ending up in France as Napoleon takes northern Italy. Further, Crowley wrote the excellent book  Empires of the Sea: The Siege of Malta, the Battle of Lepanto, and the Contest for the Center of the World . The events of this battle are only 50 or 60 years after the end of this book. Why not include more details linking to this battle and the events leading to it? I mean, he skims some of these events such as Cypress being taken by the Ottoman Empire. What is one more chapter between friends... right?All in all a great book that I enjoyed reading very much.

This reads like an exciting historical novel, but it's not; it's an actual, factual history book.Amazingly detailed and upfront, based on Venetian records that must have been copious.You can feel the growth and contraction of the Venetian Empire, including old quotes of actual people back to 1100's of their celebration and their anxiety before and after critical events.It even goes into a dozen or more periods of diplomatic maneuvering, names spies in Istanbul with their actual messages, as well as detailing events that made Amalfi, Pisa, and Genoa drop out of the competition for dominance in the Eastern Mediterranean over several hundred years.A master story teller, but it's not a story at all. It's real history.

Historical events and personalities that reads like an entertaining and informative historical novel. Quite literally a page turner as the author's entertaining narrative style sets the stage of context to relatable characters within the events they themselves lived. Not so much a time line as a time capsule which encapsulates the reader within those times.

I enjoyed a narrative history focusing on the details of economics and practical banking and trading. Emphasizing the tension between economic and political advantage in the 4th crusade leading to the sack of Constantinople was particularly enlightening.

Surpreendente e bem escrito, leitura essencial para quem gosta de história e viaja a Veneza

If you're interested in the history of Europe, empire or just Venice itself, this is the book for youLyrically written and beautiful. The only shame is there seems to be no audio book of it.

très documente

Roger Crowley versteht es Geschichte so zu erzählen, dass sie wie ein spannender Roman wirkt. Damit ist dieses Buch der perfekte Begleiter für jeden Venedig-Urlauber, aber auch für alle anderen, an der Geschichte des Mittelmeers interessierten. Ich kann dieses Buch bedenkenlos weiterempfehlen!

I suspect there isn't any earth-shattering new information in this book only gained after prolonged digging in primary sources by the author, although he certainly makes good use of primary source material. But what the author has accomplished is to take a vast mass of material and put it all together in a big picture that makes sense, has flow, and is told in elegant prose that is a pleasure to read. And does justice to that truly remarkable place, Venice... After finishing the book I immediately ordered another from Mr. Crowley and I suspect before I'm done I'll have ordered and read all his major works.