A Military History of the Ottomans - by Edward J Erickson (Paperback)

About the Book

This study tracks the growth of the Ottoman Army as a professional institution from the perspective of the Ottomans themselves, by using previously untapped Ottoman source materials.

Book Synopsis

The Ottoman Army had a significant effect on the history of the modern world and particularly on that of the Middle East and Europe.This study, written by a Turkish and an American scholar, is a revision and corrective to western accounts because it is based on Turkish interpretations, rather than European interpretations, of events. As the world's dominant military machine from 1300 to the mid-1700's, the Ottoman Army led the way in military institutions, organizational structures, technology, and tactics. In decline thereafter, it nevertheless remained a considerable force to be counted in the balance of power through 1918. From its nomadic origins, it underwent revolutions in military affairs as well as several transformations which enabled it to compete on favorable terms with the best of armies of the day. This study tracks the growth of the Ottoman Army as a professional institution from the perspective of the Ottomans themselves, by using previously untapped Ottoman source materials. Additionally, the impact of important commanders and the role of politics, as these affected the army, are examined. The study concludes with the Ottoman legacy and its effect on the Republic and modern Turkish Army.

This is a study survey that combines an introductory view of this subject with fresh and original reference-level information. Divided into distinct periods, Uyar and Erickson open with a brief overview of the establishment of the Ottoman Empire and the military systems that shaped the early military patterns.

Review Quotes

...this account is written with intelligence, verve and a very deep knowledge of Ottoman history. It is a book to which military historians, as well as students of the Ottoman world, will surely return to again and again.
Cornucopia

There has long been a need for a military history of the Ottomans in Englishand Uyar (Turkish Military Academy) and Erickson (US Marine Corps) provide a very complete one...nothing better in a single volume.
Choice

This book fills a formerly blank space in the history of Eastern Europe and the Near East.
Reference & Research Book News

About the Author

Mesut Uyar a Graduate of Turkish Military Academy, is a career military officer. He is formerly lecuturer of international relations and curator of the archive and museum at the Turkish Military Academy.

Lt. Col. Edward J. Erickson, US Army (retired) is a combat veteran of the first and second Gulf Wars. He has a PhD from the University of Leeds. He is the author of numerous books and articles on the Ottoman Army during the early twentieth century.