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History See other History Articles Title: THE FALL OF CONSTANTINOPLE AND THE WEST THE FALL OF CONSTANTINOPLE AND THE WEST The coming 29th of May marks the sad 551 st anniversary since the Fall of Constantinople to the Ottoman Turks. Much has been written about this tragic event, but the famous Finish author Mika Waltary has crystallized the impact of this tragedy to the western world, as to what will happen to the west if Constantinople falls, in the following few phrases: "Flesh without spirit," I said. "Life without hope, the slavery of mankind —a bondage so hopeless that slaves will no longer know they are slaves. Wealth without happiness, abundance without the power to enjoy it. The death of the spirit." Upon reflecting on the above thoughts that were first published in English in 1953, he may be describing the west of today. Basically, he says that the west without the Greek spirituality and intellectual wisdom will amount to nothing. Please read the excerpt below from the distinguished author. pny From the 1953 historical novel “The Dark Angel” by Mika Waltari (1908-1979), the Finish famous author who wrote “ The Egyptian” and was made a member of the Academy of Finland. {7 February 1453 ……………………."No, Manuel," I admitted; "'it's true. The cannon is on its way. Spring is in the air; soon doves will be cooing and flocks of birds will fly northward over the city. When spring is in full blossom the Sultan will be at the gates of Constantinople; no power in the world can prevent it." "And how long," he asked, "how long shall we last after that?" Why should I lie to him? He is old. He is a Greek. I am no physician, but a human being— his fellow. "A month, perhaps," I told him. "Or it may he two, Giustiniani is a brilliant soldier. Three months if he matures with his task, as I believe he will. But hardly longer. Hardly longer than that, at best." Manuel was no longer trembling. He looked me straight in the eye. "And the countries of the west?" he asked. “The Union?" "With Constantinople even the western nations will be swallowed up in night. Constantinople is the last lamp, the last hope of Christendom. If they allow it to be quenched they will have deserved their fate." "And what will be their fate?" he asked. "Forgive me, master, but I am curious to know, so that my heart may prepare itself." "Flesh without spirit," I said. "Life without hope, the slavery of mankind —a bondage so hopeless that slaves will no longer know they are slaves. Wealth without happiness, abundance without the power to enjoy it. The death of the spirit."}
Poster Comment: More excerpts from “The Dark Angel” by Mika Waltari: ...The Greeks know how to die for the last inch of their crumbling Empire. Barbarians in the east, barbarians in the west. On the borders of the two worlds Christ's last city is fighting for its life -without hope of help, without claim to glory. Naked, mutilated corpses pierced with stakes, swarming with flies.... ....You're fighting on the wrong side, Johann Grant! Sultan Mohammed would hail you as his fellow, if he knew you." He said, "No, no. I belong to the West-to Europe. I fight for the freedom of man, not his bondage." "And what is the freedom of man?" I asked him. He looked at me with his restless eyes, pondered for a while, and answered, "The right to choose." "Just so," I whispered. "That is man's terrible freedom-the freedom of Prometheus, the freedom of our original sin." He smiled, laid his hand upon my shoulder and sighed. "Ah, you Greeks!"....
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