Short Synopsis
From award-winning historian Eugene Rogan comes a comprehensive history on the fall of the Ottoman Empire and how events from a century ago still affect the region today.

Full Synopsis
In The Fall of the Ottomans, award-winning historian Eugene Rogan brings the First World War and its immediate aftermath in the Middle East to vivid life, uncovering the often ignored story of the region's crucial role in the conflict. Bolstered by German money, arms, and military advisors, the Ottomans took on the Russian, British, and French forces and tried to provoke jihad against the Allies in their Muslim colonies. Unlike the static killing fields of the Western Front, the war in the Middle East was fast-moving and unpredictable, with the Turks inflicting decisive defeats before the tide of battle turned in the Allies' favor. The great cities of Baghdad, Jerusalem, and, finally, Damascus fell to invading armies before the Ottomans agreed to an armistice in 1918.

The postwar settlement led to the partition of Ottoman lands between the victorious powers and laid the groundwork for the ongoing conflicts that continue to plague the modern Arab world. A sweeping narrative of battles and political intrigue from Gallipoli to Arabia, The Fall of the Ottomans is essential listening for anyone seeking to understand the Great War and the making of the modern Middle East.

"An illuminating work that offers new understanding to the troubled history of this key geopolitical region." ---Kirkus

"This well-researched and well-written book is not strictly military history, however, but an overview of the last years of the empire and its experiences in the Great War." ---Library Journal

"This superb audio production illuminates a neglected side of WWI, and the origin of many of today's conflicts in the Middle East." ---AudioFile

Bestseller

AudioFile Earphones Award Winner