The battle of Manzikert in 1071 marked the apogee of Byzantium, the eastern half of the millenium old Roman Empire. The defeat of the Byzantine army by the Turks was a turning point in history, threatening European Christianity, precipitating the Crusades and directly leading to the fall of Constantinople in 1453. It was also marked the beginning of what would later be known as the Turkish Empire.
The Byzantine Empire marshalled far greater resources and a stronger army than did the Turks. Why did they lose? There is a lesson in there for us today.
Recommended reading: The Byzantium Trilogy by John Julius Norwich
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