This week on Why Wars Happened, we uncover the secrets behind the rise of the Ottoman Empire with historian Si Sheppard—Associate Professor of Political Science at Long Island University and author of Crescent Dawn.
👉 Discover how the Ottomans shaped the modern world in ways most people overlook:
⚔️ Surprising military campaigns & alliances
🌍 The first true “global war”?
💰 How economics fueled empire-building
🌦️ Why weather could decide victory or defeat
⛵ Barbary pirates, Protestant Reformation, Morocco’s key role & more
Whether you love epic military history or hidden turning points that shaped our world, this episode brings the Ottoman story to life in a way you’ve never heard before.
Timestamps
00:00 – Welcome to Why Wars Happened
00:51 – Meet Si Sheppard
01:32 – How the Ottoman Empire shaped the modern world
04:43 – Was this the first global war?
07:03 – Key leaders on both sides
09:51 – The Protestant Reformation’s role
13:03 – Why Morocco mattered so much
16:03 – The Ottoman–French alliance explained
16:34 – Barbary pirates & imperial influence
17:14 – Eyewitness accounts from the frontlines
20:01 – Portugal vs. Ottoman expansion
21:29 – Lasting impact on Europe
21:49 – When weather changed everything
26:25 – Could the Ottomans have gone further?
29:41 – Wrapping up + book recommendation
#OttomanEmpire #HistoryPodcast #WhyWarsHappened #MilitaryHistory #WorldHistory
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