Product Description

When it was first published, Godfrey Goodwin's study immediately established itself as a definitive work on the subject. It remains the only comprehensive survey in English and virtually the only account of the last two centuries of Turkish architecture.

The author treats his subject chronologically and in its historical perspective, with full discussion of the effects of conquests, religion, and social organization. He describes not only the great mosques but also the layout and function of the buildings that came to be grouped around the mosques: schools, baths, hostels, kitchens, fountains, mausoleums, and shops. Fortifications, waterworks, and bridges are also considered. Turkish words are explained in a glossary, and there is a chronological table listing Ottoman rulers and the relevant historical events, together with detailed notes and an extensive bibliography. 521 color illustrations.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #147664 in Books
• Published on: 2003-05
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 512 pages

Review
A stupendous achievement. -- Architectural Review

About the Author
Godfrey Goodwin was Director of the Royal Asiatic Society.

Customer Reviews

matchless
Goodwin's A History of Ottoman architecture was first published in 1971. Since then it has been the primary reference book on Ottoman architecture. Every student of this architectural tradition from first year university students to emeritius professors still use this book whenever they need information on a certain period or building. This book not only gives encyclopedic information, but also provides the reader with a certain point of view and masterfully done interpretation on specific issues. Goodwin's rich terminological and conceptual tools make the book valuable in respect to its scientific definitiveness and narrative. Each chapter contains drawings, plans and photographs of the buildings and of urban settings. Since Goodwin's book comprises the history of Ottoman architecture from its beginnings to its end, the reader should not expect to find the illustrations of all buildings. On the other hand, Goodwin not only deals with the primary Ottoman buildings of istanbul, but also gives descriptions and comparative evaluations of some of the minor buildings outside of the capital city. This last treat is generally lacking in other general histories of Ottoman architecture. Therefore, I highly recommend this book to anybody who is interested in great architectures of the world.

A Breathtaking Survey of Ottoman Architecture
One cannot lavish enough superlatives on this work. The astounding, encyclopedic knowledge of the author of his subject matter, his loving dedication to it, and the insight and inconoclasism that permeates this tome all make for a wonderful reading. While every chapter of this book has something to recommend (especially the earlier chapters), I found the three chapters on the famous 16th century Ottoman master architect Mimar Sinan to be exceptionally poetic. I have recently carried an earlier edition of this book with me on a pilgrimage of sorts following the Sinan mosques in Istanbul from the earliest (Haseki Hu'rrem Mosque) through his more grand masterpieces such as the Sulaymaniae and his later sublime works such as Rustem Pasha and Sokollu Pasha mosques. All the details of interest were there as was the more arching overview of what the architect was up to and how he met or failed to meet the challenges at hand. The book covers the entire Anadoul plateau and some examples from the provinces. It is very informative on the influences of different architectural genres (the Byzantine and the Seljuk to name two obvious ones) on the Ottoman example. If art and architecture are windows into understanding and appreciating accomplishments of cultures and societies you would be hard put to find a better guide to Ottoman architectural and cultural achievements.