The book is terrific. Entertainly written, engrossing, and well-researched. She clearly has gone back to Istanbul several times. She is up on the latest archaeological research. How unusual for a person with such a winning personality demonstrated in her fine and well-informed documentaries to also write such a well-researched book.
Agreed. Istanbul is fascinating. Jaipur is also a fascinating and beautiful city. I have greatly enjoyed visiting and learning in both. Considering the history of Jaipur with Islam and the sponsorship of the Aga Khan foundation, it is understandable that Bettany is soft on Islam. But this slant is sad. My research shows otherwise. Turkish women were actually captives in harems. This was not by choice. They were blessed if their house had a screened bay upstairs from which they could watch the world go by below. Jewish women, called kiras, were intermediaries to do their business in the outside world. When the harem situation was brought to the attention of Western women's rights reformers, whom I would think Bettany would support, in the 1910s there was an outcry on their behalf. This likely influenced Atatürk's reforms in the next decade, improving the situation of women in modern Turkey. Christians were not treated well either. Two off the famous residents of Istanbul she refers were forced to convert, like Sinan, the kidnapped youth ripped away from his family and forced to become a Muslim Janissary. All the Janissaries were kidnapped Christian youths. And of course, the Turkish conquest of Constantinople was softened; whereas the 4 Crusade's conquest looks worse because she skipped confusing political side-swapping by leaders, the confusion of which brought on the fighting. Bettany is a good presenter with interesting insights. I appreciate that she focuses more on women, who are often overlooked in history. But I have noticed before that she plays soft with Islam. It would be great if she read an old, meaning accurate, translation of the Quran and some of the Sahih hadith collections, like Bukhari or Sahih Muslim. For general readers who would like to know more, I could suggest Terry Kelhawk's exciting adventure novel "The Topkapi Secret," or Pierre Loti's classic 1906 work "The Disenchanted."
Its not Instanbul the name its KONSTANTINOUPOLI. the barbarians named like this they have nothing to offer nothing to show no histoty no culture Bethany you are a great historian but this time i dont know i have lots of you book but this one i dont think so i am verry sorry you are still the BEST of all
The book is terrific. Entertainly written, engrossing, and well-researched. She clearly has gone back to Istanbul several times. She is up on the latest archaeological research. How unusual for a person with such a winning personality demonstrated in her fine and well-informed documentaries to also write such a well-researched book.
I discovered Bethany Hughes just last week and have been a great fan of her
A former Istanbulite
Hi can you give me your Instagram
It's an incredible book. Bettany Hughes gives an enthusiastic lecture without notes.
Pity that we cannot see the images projected on the screen.
Brilliant Bettany, of course, but very frustrating not to be able to see the slides.
Lovely woman Bethany Hughes is Love her Documentaries.
Who the heck is "Bethany"?
Thanks to this, I just ordered the book
She presents to a live audience just as well as her recorded tv documentaries
Dear Professor Bettany, you are inspiring me to do videos as well, but I'll do it from a Chemist viewpoint...
*_Where tf is Spiderman?_*
Ugh I wish she was my mom
What a combination!
Agreed. Istanbul is fascinating. Jaipur is also a fascinating and beautiful city. I have greatly enjoyed visiting and learning in both.
Considering the history of Jaipur with Islam and the sponsorship of the Aga Khan foundation, it is understandable that Bettany is soft on Islam. But this slant is sad.
My research shows otherwise.
Turkish women were actually captives in harems. This was not by choice. They were blessed if their house had a screened bay upstairs from which they could watch the world go by below. Jewish women, called kiras, were intermediaries to do their business in the outside world. When the harem situation was brought to the attention of Western women's rights reformers, whom I would think Bettany would support, in the 1910s there was an outcry on their behalf. This likely influenced Atatürk's reforms in the next decade, improving the situation of women in modern Turkey.
Christians were not treated well either. Two off the famous residents of Istanbul she refers were forced to convert, like Sinan, the kidnapped youth ripped away from his family and forced to become a Muslim Janissary. All the Janissaries were kidnapped Christian youths.
And of course, the Turkish conquest of Constantinople was softened; whereas the 4 Crusade's conquest looks worse because she skipped confusing political side-swapping by leaders, the confusion of which brought on the fighting.
Bettany is a good presenter with interesting insights. I appreciate that she focuses more on women, who are often overlooked in history. But I have noticed before that she plays soft with Islam. It would be great if she read an old, meaning accurate, translation of the Quran and some of the Sahih hadith collections, like Bukhari or Sahih Muslim.
For general readers who would like to know more, I could suggest Terry Kelhawk's exciting adventure novel "The Topkapi Secret," or Pierre Loti's classic 1906 work "The Disenchanted."
Where is historical peer reviewed claim that in 5500 bc there was a sea level rise of 268ft in 300 days in turkey?
Its not Instanbul the name its KONSTANTINOUPOLI. the barbarians named like this they have nothing to offer nothing to show no histoty no culture Bethany you are a great historian but this time i dont know i have lots of you book but this one i dont think so i am verry sorry you are still the BEST of all