Great Ming Dynasty Wen Chao Gong

Chapter 70 The Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire

Zhang Xiao could not have known that because of "Mr. Zhang", the emperor suddenly thought of a past event that he could not even mention. At this time, he went home to get his things, then hurried to Ding's Bookstore and went straight to the location of shopkeeper Ding.

"Shopkeeper Ding, business is booming. I have never thanked the shopkeeper for finding talents for me," Zhang Xiao said.

"Mr. Zhang, I haven't seen you for a few days. I heard that you were giving lectures in the Imperial College a few days ago. By the way, the business of the bookstore has improved a lot these days."

"I've talked about some new things, but they're still far from perfect. By the way, I've never been able to thank Shopkeeper Ding for finding talents for me," Zhang Xiao said.

"Master Zhang is talking about Lu Zhang, right? He is actually very talented in studying, but he has been delayed due to family problems. Master Zhang took the time to come here, but what is important?" Shopkeeper Ding said.

"Can the bookstore publish this set of books in the near future?" Zhang Xiao took out the manuscript of Timur's national history.

"Is this the Tamerlane chapter of "The Rise of the Great Powers" that you often mentioned before, Master Zhang? Then the little old man should read it quickly. Master Zhang's book must be printed quickly and well." Shopkeeper Ding was happy Received the manuscript.

"When talking about Timur's national history, it should also be accompanied by some illustrations, such as the city of Samarkand, such as the appearance of elephant soldiers. These illustrations are played by Shopkeeper Lao. Shopkeeper Ding, "The Complete Biography of Yue" and "The Romance of the Sui and Tang Dynasties" "After the manuscript was handed over, how is the continuation going on here?" Zhang Xiao asked.

"The continuation is almost complete. I have to check it again in person. The manuscript will be delivered to my house in a few days."

……

Back home, Zhang Xiao is ready to start writing the chapter on the Ottoman Empire.

Since we are talking about the Ottoman Empire, we cannot just start with the establishment of the Ottoman Empire, but also give a general overview of the historical origins of the Roman Empire, especially the Eastern Roman Empire. And because the Ottoman State was just a vassal of the Sultanate of Roma, the history of the Seljuk Empire and the Sultanate of Roma must be explained clearly.

After telling the background of this story, let’s talk about the founding of the Ottoman state and its subsequent development. Up to now, Osman has also experienced many kings, including the founding king Osman I, Orhan, Murad I, Bayezid I, Muhammad I, Murad II, Muhammad II, Bayezid King Te II, Selim I, Suleiman I, Selim II, Murad III and more than ten kings.

Except for the disastrous defeat of Bayezid I at the hands of the lame Timur, which led to a period of chaos and interregnum in the Ottoman Empire for more than ten years, the Ottoman Empire was prospering at other times. Even the Battle of Lepanto that took place twenty years ago, in which the coalition of European countries defeated the main force of the Ottoman Empire's fleet, did not really interrupt the expansion of the Ottoman Empire. Even the current Murad III, although he was classified as a fatuous king by later generations, still had a great victory over the Safavid dynasty. In the original time and space, the expansion of the Ottoman Empire stagnated and it would not turn from prosperity to decline until the Battle of Vienna decades later. Since there are so many monarchs, it is naturally impossible to write such detailed descriptions of each monarch. Zhang Xiao decided to highlight a few key descriptions of the monarchs with more story-telling, such as Lightning Bayezid I and the Conquest of Constantinople. Mehmed II, the conqueror of Dimburg, and Suleiman I, who brought the Ottoman development to its peak.

Just do it. After Zhang Xiao sorted out his ideas, he began to write the history of the Ottoman Empire. He followed the previous practice, which was to make a beginning and attach the content framework of the book and the writing ideas.

In the past few days, Zhang Xiao has been focusing on writing the history of the Ottoman Empire. Because the next lesson I have to teach the eldest son of the emperor is still a week away.

After writing the manuscript, Zhang Xiao submitted it. Then when class was about to start, Zhang Xiao was called to the imperial study room in advance.

"The Great Qin mentioned in "The Book of the Later Han Dynasty: Biography of the Western Regions" is the Roman Empire you mentioned, right? Remember in the book, the Great Qin had thirty-six generals, all of whom would discuss state affairs. There was no ordinary king among them. The virtuous people are simply established. Disasters and storms occur in the country from time to time, and those who are released are replaced and replaced without complaint. Then the Qin State selects talents and promotes talents, which is quite the style of ancient sages. How come after so many years, it was replaced by this Ottoman Is the country destroyed?" the emperor asked.

"Your Majesty, this is a long story." Since the emperor asked, Zhang Xiao started to talk about the history of Rome from the beginning. Of course, he could only talk about the important ones, from the era of the Roman Republic to Caesar and Octavian. He also talked about the decline and division of Rome, the demise of the Western Roman Empire, the failure of the Eastern Roman Empire to regain its lost territory, the rise of the Crusades, the fall of Constantinople caused by the Fourth Crusade, and again after the restoration of the country. It fell into civil strife and finally irreversibly led to the end of the country.

"The last monarch of the Roman Empire was called Constantine XI. Although the European countries had made the mistake of the Fourth Crusade and weakened the Eastern Roman Empire. But now the Ottoman Empire continues to expand. They also felt deeply threatened, so they organized the Crusaders again to aid Eastern Rome. Five years before Constantine XI came to the throne, Europe sent coalition forces to try to assist Eastern Rome. As a result, they were defeated by the Ottomans in the Battle of Varna. A decisive battle broke out between the main force of the empire, the European allied forces were defeated, and the King of Poland was killed on the spot. After Constantine XI came to the throne, except for some scattered territories, the Eastern Roman Empire basically only had an isolated city in the capital."

Zhang Xiao went on to talk about the capture of Constantinople by the Ottomans in 1453. He also talked about how Constantine XI preferred to die rather than surrender, and finally died in the rebellion.

"Then the fall of Rome cannot be blamed on Constantine XI. He was isolated and helpless, and he still held on to the lonely city for so long. He died in the country. The Roman state lasted for thousands of years, and it perished like this. "Okay, this is a big deal, have any European countries or this Ottoman country given a history to Rome?" the emperor asked.

"Never, some fragments of words have never been revised into the original text." Zhang Xiao said. After all, it would be many years before the book "The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire" written by the British was completed.

"Then this is too frivolous. No one has recorded the rise and fall of Rome. So where can European countries and the Ottoman state find experience in governing the country? Zhang Xiao, let me give you another task. This Rome I think you are quite familiar with the history of the rise and fall of empires. Why don't you be responsible for recording it in a book? Of course, not now. I know this is not easy to write. You can find someone to complete it with you when the time comes. I remember that it is also recorded in the Book of the Later Han Dynasty. The people of the Qin Dynasty are all grown up and upright, similar to China. To be given the name of the Qin Dynasty by the Han Dynasty, and to be praised so highly, there should be a lot of things worth writing about in the Roman Empire." the emperor ordered.

"I obey the order," Zhang Xiao said.

(End of this chapter)