Istanbul: City of Majesty at the Crossroads of the World

I wanted to get a better understanding of the history of Istanbul; to understand what was ‘Constantinople’, tell me more about the Ottoman Empire; and what was the Byzantine Empire. I read ~2/3s the week before and on the plane. It was a great investment - the historical insights really enhance my first visit to Istanbul. It was perfect.I bought Thomas Madden’s book as it was viewed as best to give a historical perspective. It reads like a story; with typically 15-20 pages per chapter - digestible pieces of history laid out with major historical landmarks. It gives a nice feeling for the evolution of the city and its leaders over typically 100 year periods. Two things i particularly liked were 1) it lays out the evolution, expansion, development, building and rise and falls of the city; 2) and more than that, it tells you which monuments dating from Roman times, Byzantine times etc. are still standing and you can still see today - i marked many of these (Aquaduct of Valens, Obelisk of Theodossius, Column of the Goths, Basilica Cistern & ofc Hagi Sophia) and saw history come to life when I then visited them.On reflection, I’d give myself two weeks prior to visit to read. You get a lot more out of a visit to a city with some historical insight - it becomes exciting to actually see what you’ve read and learnt.

If you're planning a trip to Istanbul, this book will add immeasurably to the experience. It covers the grand sweep of history from the ancient greek settlements to the present day in a much shorter book than other options I considered. I started reading a month prior to my trip and finished it while I was there (you will want to bring it with you for reference). Amidst the gripping historical story, Madden seemlessly gives the reader background on both the well known and lesser known (but fascinating) sites you can visit in this captivating city. It was invaluable and really was the key for me to fully enjoy, appreciate, and sense the historic atmosphere, wonder and mystery of this place on the shores of the Bosphorus. It turned a holiday into an adventure.

I booked a last minute trip to Istanbul and wanted a good quick history of the city. If I had had a little more notice I probably would have started with the longer Bettany Hughes book. But I certainly didn't regret opting for this shorter history. The book is incredibly easy to read without feeling that too much detail is being left out, and is an invaluable guide to The City.