Smithsonian Journeys Experts

Roger Crowley is a UK-based writer and historian and a graduate of Cambridge University. As the child of a naval family, his fascination with the Mediterranean world and its surrounding area started early, on the island of Malta. He has lived in Istanbul, walked across much of western Turkey, and travelled throughout the region over many years – from Spain and Portugal to the Black Sea. His particular interests are the Portuguese, Byzantine, Venetian, and Ottoman empires, seafaring, and eyewitness history. He has lectured to a wide range of audiences and groups of travellers, talked on TV and Radio and written for many different publications, including Smithsonian Journeys Travel Quarterly about Venice. He is the author of five much acclaimed books: 1453: The Holy War for Constantinople, Empires of the Sea, City of Fortune: How Venice Ruled the Seas, Conquerors: How Portugal Forged the First Global Empire and most recently The Accursed Tower: The Fall of Acre and the End of the Crusades.