The Ottoman Empire and Early Modern Europe

New Approaches to European History #24

by Daniel Goffman

Despite the fact that its capital city and over one third of its territory was within the continent of Europe, the Ottoman Empire has consistently been regarded as a place apart, inextricably divided from the West by differences of culture and religion. A perception of its militarism, its barbarism, its tyranny, the sexual appetites of its rulers and its pervasive exoticism has led historians to measure the Ottoman world against a western standard and find it lacking. In recent decades, a dynamic and convincing scholarship has emerged that seeks to comprehend and, in the process, to de-exoticize this enduring realm. Dan Goffman provides a thorough introduction to the history and institutions of the Ottoman Empire from this new standpoint, and presents a claim for its inclusion in Europe. His lucid and engaging book--an important addition to New Approaches in European History--will be essential reading for undergraduates.

Genres: History, European History, Middle East, World History, Nonfiction, Islam

273 pages, Paperback

First published April 24, 1998

Reviews

[Costas... · Rating 4 out of 5]

Εξαιρετική εργασία από τον Ντάνιελ Γκόφμαν. Ικανοποιητική η τεκμηρίωση των τιθέμενων ερωτημάτων και επιχειρημάτων τόσο από άποψη ποσότητας όσο και ποιότητας, και το κυριότερο, βασισμένη σε μια πλούσια αναφορά βιβλιογραφικών παραπομπών. Το ξεχωριστό κεφάλαιο στο τέλος με προτάσεις εκδόσεων για περαιτέρω έρευνα στο ευρύτατο θέμα των σχέσεων και της αλληλεπίδρασης της Οθωμανικής Αυτοκρατορίας με την πρώιμη νεότερη Ευρώπη, παρουσιάζει σε κάθε περίπτωση, ιδιαίτερο ενδιαφέρον.

Ανεξάρτητα από κάποια μικρά λάθη στην επιμέλεια του κειμένου, η παρούσα μετάφραση του βιβλίου είναι, αν όχι σημαντική συμβολή (όπως καθ' υπερβολήν θα μπορούσε κάποιος να υποστηρίξει), τουλάχιστον ένα ακόμη πετραδάκι στο χτίσιμο της φτωχής -σχετικά- βιβλιογραφίας των ευρύτερων οθωμανικών σπουδών και θεμάτων στην ελληνική γλώσσα καθώς και των πιο ειδικότερων που σχετίζονται με τη σκοτεινή βιβλιογραφικά ιστορία της Νοτιοανατολικής Ευρώπης και της τουρκοκρατούμενης Ελλάδας στο διάστημα από την Άλωση της Κωνσταντινούπολης μέχρι την αυγή του Νεοελληνικού Διαφωτισμού.

[DoctorM · Rating 4 out of 5]

Goffman looks at the Ottoman Empire as a key player in the affairs of early modern Europe rather than as an alien force on the edge of Christendom. He notes that in the 16th and 17th centuries, a huge proportion of Ottoman territory was in southeastern Europe, and that Ottoman trade relationships in the Mediterranean and into eastern and central Europe were extensive and deep. The book sometimes overstates the similarities between Ottoman political economy and the West and very much understates the role of Islam in defining the nature of Ottoman rule, but it makes very clear that in, say, 1600, the Ottoman Empire was as much a European power as an "Oriental" state, and that French and Habsburg diplomats and merchants treated it as such.

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

Persuasively argues that the Ottoman was a part of, not separate from, Europe. I read this 15 years ago when it was nearly a decade old, and Goffman's argument still needs to be made, at least to high school history teachers.

[AC]

Goffman argues that Ottoman Turkey had more in common with Europe than differences -- not entirely persuasively. The rest of the book looks like pretty solid social-institutional history. There is an excellent 10-page, annotated bibliography at the end.

[Robert · Rating 2 out of 5]

Goffman seems a bit too desperate to 'prove' that Christian 'imperialism' was more brutal than Ottoman 'expansion' or 'advance' in the Mediterranean and to make the case for 'Ottomans-as-Europeans' for his text to be considered much more than eager revisionism. Also, for a book that purports to cover the early modern period, it seems curious to wrap things up at 1571. The book only has one brief chapter concerning the 17th century, a summary overview if even that. There is, for example, literally a single sentence mentioning the siege of Vienna in 1683.

[Kostas Bal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ιδιαίτερα ενδιαφέρον υπήρξε το δεύτερο μέρος του βιβλίου, που πραγματεύεται τις σχέσεις της Οθ.Α με τη Δύση. Ενώ, άξια αναφοράς είναι η διαφοροποίηση του συγγραφέα στο μοντέλο της σταδιακής παρακμής της Οθ.Α. Τέλος, ενδιαφέρον είναι και το τελευταίο μέρος του βιβλίου, με την ονομασία "Προτάσεις για περαιτέρω διάβασμα", στο οποίο ο συγγραφέας προτείνει μια σχετική και πλούσια βιβλιογραφία για περισσότερη μελέτη επί των θεμάτων της Οθ.Α.

[Joshua · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I have some issues with the actual scope versus the scope as in the title, this is an excellent book which provides what the author calls an "Ottomancentric" perspective to European-Ottoman relations.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Text for Mediterranean Encounters class. Very thorough and informative.

[C. B. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like many books in the New Approaches to European History series, it diverges from any sort of traditional textbook format. So if you're a student looking for analyses of specific wars or events conveniently arranged into chapters and sections (as I may or may not have been), then this isn't the best. But Goffman gives a great sense of the surprisingly well-studied subject of Ottoman/European relations and dynamics in the early modern period.

[Victoria · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not terrible, but raises more questions than it answers. Argues that the Ottoman Empire played a significant role in the development of Europe, that it was not marginalized, that Orientalism per se did not exist in the 16th and 17th centuries, that what has been characterized as "decline" (which teleologically points to the end of the Empire in the 20th century) actually only points to crisis and development in another direction than Europe followed, and that it was, after all, far more European than historians have credited. Hugely problematic for not actually defining what is meant by "Europe" or "European", and for utterly downplaying differences between Islamic and Christian cultures, and their role in the development of their respective societies. Solid as a textbook (as it is what it is).

[Manal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Introduced a different perspective to the presence of the Ottoman Empire: one that isn't as prevalent in contemporary history. Definitely sparked my interest in learning more about the relationship between Christian and Islamic Europe. Also a relatively short read.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Convincing argument and enjoyable "historical fiction" vignettes to keep your attention.

[Sarah Furger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally finished this guy. Very well researched, excellent use of sources, and a great starting place for Ottoman Studies.

[Safaa Selwaye · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is full of theories, another Orientalist trap:)