The return of Marcus Bull to the siege through the eyes of the Ottomans and a global perspective that changes our viewpoint has significantly contributed to the understanding of the events of 1565. His approach is investigative, based on a forensic study of all available evidence, and poses open questions. The coverage of the siege is concise and full of interesting perspectives.

This important new account of the epic siege of the island fortress of Malta highlights the vital significance of the siege, while placing it in a much broader context. Despite the fact that it is often elevated to a defining battle between the West and the East, it was also much more interesting and complex than that – both sides had many other priorities beyond Malta. Suleiman the Magnificent had conquered territories from Hungary to the Persian Gulf, while Philip II was building an empire in America and Asia.

Drawing from a wide range of eyewitness accounts, Marcus Bull offers a vivid sense of the technologies, values, and assumptions of the era. It was a harsh world relying on the labor of many thousands of passing galleys, with shockingly violent forms of warfare and religious absolutism. However, it was also a world filled with the most remarkable new discoveries and ideas. Both these worlds combine in the siege and in this book.

Pages: 352, Year of Publication: 0325, Dimensions: 16.3x16.3cm