Friday, 6 May 2016

The battle of Gallipoli 1416 and its consequences for Venetians and Ottomans

On May 29, 1416, a Venetian fleet that was escorting an ambassador to the Ottoman Sultan was attacked by a larger number of Turkish vessels off the harbour of Gallipoli, on the eastern side of the Gallipoli peninsula. The Venetians destroyed the Turkish fleet, and killed so many of its sailors and officers that the Ottoman navy was weakened for many years. This unexpected success may have caused the expansionist group in Venetian politics to accept the offer of Thessalonica in 1423. This was a failure, because they did not have enough manpower to defeat the Turks on land. This episode of ‘irrational exuberance’ marked the beginning of the slow decline of Venice.


About the Speaker
Emeritus Professor John Melville-Jones, a graduate of Cambridge University, was appointed to a lectureship in Classics and Ancient History at UWA in 1957. In addition to teaching the regular courses in Classics, he developed an interest in ancient Greek and Roman art and architecture, and taught courses in that area until 2011. His research has been concentrated on the coinage of the ancient Greeks and Romans, and on the history of the later Byzantine Empire.

Tuesday 10th May 2016, Reid Library 2nd Floor Conference Room

Doors open 7:00pm – Talk commences 7:30pm

Cost: $5 donation (Free for Friends of the Library Members)

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