Customer Reviews

The Emergence of Modern Turkey (Studies in Middle Eastern History)

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1 star:		(3)

 

 

Bernard Lewis offers a valuable survey of the history of modern Turkey. The first half of the book is a chronological discussion of the social and political events leading to the fall of the Ottoman Empire and the rise of Turkish nationalism. The second half of the book is a more in depth analysis of the key intellectual and political figures who worked both for and against the consolidation of power among the adherents of the C.U.P.

Bernard Lewis does not limit his study strictly to the historical issues; he discusses some of the important European missunderstandings that guided policymakers in the Near East. He also elaborates on diplomatic factors that affected commercial relations between the West and East; the history of the European "capitulations" in Istanbul, for example, is touched upon.

Where the book really shines, however, is in the second half where Dr. Lewis introduces the western reader to the Turkish periodicals, philosophical tracts and political pamphlets current in the 19th and early 20th cnetury; Dr. Lewis also explores the evolution of modern Turkish in a way that makes it accessible to those unfamiliar with the language -- stressing how important irredentism was in the propaganda of the revolution. The poetry and literature of the elite is contrasted with the language that was spoken by the average Turkish citizenry; a great deal of the rhetoric used by the Ottoman officials and even by the early activists of the Young Turk Movement, for example, was incomprhensible to the masses, because of its obsolescent flourishes and subtle illusions which could only be appreciated by the highly educated.

The dificiency of the book is that it's subject matter, although not intentionally exclusive, is more geared toward the specialist in Turkish and Near Eastern history. However, those familiar with some of the other historical factors surrounding the topics discussed shouldn't have any problem following the events as they unfold. But the scarcity of maps, and the oblique references to WWI and some of the other social and historical factors happening at the time (both in and outside of Turkey proper), may leave the less prepared reader a bit confused. But as a work of Turkish constitutional and intellectual history, and as an overview of the stunning accomplishments of Attaturk and his peers, it is an extremely rewarding read.

This book was long considered the classic description of the recent history of Turkey. The author has a beautiful writing style, and the book is a pleasure to read. It is by now fairly outdated, however, and the more recent history of Turkey provides reason to question some of Lewis's assumptions.

The book has largely been superseded by Erich Jan Zurcher's "A Modern History of Turkey", also available from Amazon, which can be seen as more reliable and covering issues which Lewis neglects. Professor Zurcher, of the University of Leiden in the Netherlands, has written an appreciative but nonetheless insightful commentary of the Lewis book. Readers considering purchasing the Lewis book would do well to read this commentary beforehand.

Thank God, there is some new info on this country. For decades we had to depend on 50's and 60's informations to get a clear picture of creation of Turkey. I liked it a lot. A new window to America's closest ally that is so far away.

B.Lewis is an excellent writer who captures fundemental truths of the history of the Turkish republic and its emergence.Despite that the book has many facts and details it is written in a way that makes it fascinating to read.It is recommeneded for anybody who has interest in Turkish history.

It's a little dry at times, but this is a well-written, scholarly history of the development of modern Tukey, focusing primarily upon the late Ottoman period and going into revolutionary and modern Turkey.

Lewis scientifically presents historical facts in an objective way. There are numerious references that are used. This book gives a flavor almost like a Ph.D. dissertation. The infrastructure of Ottoman Empire is discussed and scrutinized in detail. This is a book for who would like to know the historic facts behind the modern Turkey and understand its roots.

Bernard Lewis is an expert on Turkish/Ottoman history. The background of turkish history lies in the Ottoman empire and beginning from 1800 all the bases of ideas that Turkish Republic is based on flourished and evolved in Istanbul and in European cities. Since in Turkey I have learnt "propagandist" history and one-man show of Ataturk I have increased my perspective on Turkish history with this book. Lacking are what happened to minorities of Anatolia and the harshness of realities about that them. Anatolia was their land too. Their story has not been told.

First of all the book is written, told, and presented beautifully. Many of the reviewers see that also, except a certain Robert Marzian. I am a person that has done research on different languages and have seen certain traits in names that automatically trace an individual to the country their from or are related to.
In Armenia, many of the people have the suffix -ian at the end of their names/last names. And surprise! No wonder mr marzIAN hates this book :)
Please people, read a book and judge it objectivly! As for you mr Marzian, you need to stop being RACIST!

This book is obviously selective in what facts it wants to present.

How can it be a "complete" history of the emergence of Turkey without considering the impact of a significant minority whose treatment and the subsequent genocide is completely omitted.

I am of course referring to the Armenians.

Much of the events that shaped the course of evolution of the Ottoman empire, from late 19th to early 20 century, were defined by its reactionary responses to foreign castigation of the empire for its oppressive treatment of its minorities.

A decrepit and bankrupt empire, whose foundations were being eroded by interventionnist external powers, turned on its minorities, especially against its Armenian population, whose national re-awakening were prodded by the ever increasing persecution they faced as subjects of the ottoman empire. The cycle of persecution followed by further foreign condemnation and intervention fueled the suspicions of the rulers towards their minorities. This set up the conditions for what would be a disastrous beginning in the 20th century for the Ottoman empire and for most of its subjects, but particularly harsh for the Armenians.

The resurgence of nationalism was not limited to the minorities, Turkish awakening took the form of Pan-turkism which promulgated Turkish homogeneity from the Bosphorous to Central Asia.

The Ittihadist Turkish government of 1915, true to its pan-turkist ideology, then embarked on a final solution. The extermination of the entire Armenian population from their ancestral lands. Some 1.5 million armenians perished due to massacres, disease and starvation.

Since Lewis leaves out such a vital element out of his history of "emergence", it makes us wonder how much of a historian he is and how much of a merchant of selective truths.

i m telling you, dont hesitate to read this book...just trust me and let the show begin...