In the second half of the eighteenth century, approximately three quarters of the Mediterranean coastline and its hinterlands were controlled by a vast Islamic power, the centuries-old Ottoman Empire. However, by the end of the First World War in November 1918, this great civilization—once regarded by Christian Europe with awe and fear—had been completely subjugated, its territories occupied by European powers.
The history of imperialism in the Mediterranean involves not one but six European powers-Britain, France, Italy, Spain, Austria-Hungary, and Russia- jostling for control of the trade, lands, and wealth of those they saw as the existential “other.” The competition between these states made their conquest of the Islamic Mediterranean a far more difficult and extended task than they encountered elsewhere in the world. Yet, as new contenders entered the contest, and as the rivalries in the Mediterranean intensified in the early twentieth century, events would spiral out of control as the continent headed towards the First World War.
Set against a background of intense imperial rivalry, Sea of Troubles is the first definitive account of the European conquest of the Levant and North Africa in the last three centuries.
Reviews
‘A rich and complex narrative …..Ian Rutledge’s careful prose underscores the essential Trends and events, on both land and sea, that have made the eastern Mediterranean a critical setting for modern history. A must read.’ Professor Ryan Gringeras, US Naval Postgraduate School, California
‘ This masterly history covers the encroachment of European imperial powers into the territories of the Ottoman Empire over the long nineteenth century. The sweep and acuity.of this analysis are impressive. A lively and informative read. Professor Charles Tripp, London School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS)
‘A compelling narrative’. John Darwin, Times Literary Supplement
‘enthralling’, William Eichler, History Today
‘Sea of Troubles… attempts to tell a complex story and answer an important question. A lifetime worth of research has gone into this book and Rutledge offers some deep insight and rich detail. His writing allows us to explore the origins of the First World War with a better understanding about the Eastern Mediterranean and North Africa in the middle of it all. The book occasionally looks eerily familiar to those of us observing events in the Middle East today, as geopolitical shifts take place and neo-imperial competition is happening before our eyes. We still live with the legacy of the Ottomans and the rise of the West, which is what makes this book an important read.’ Usama Butt, Middle East Monitor
‘More than just an interesting history book. Events in the Mediterranean past and their historical consequences echo what is occurring in Gaza today and provides perspective.’ Tony Richardson, Anti-Capitalist Resistance
In November 2024 Sea of Troubles was short-listed for the PEN Hessell-Tiltman History Prize.
Ian Rutledge 