We live in a confusing world, and the international underpinnings of many countries and cultures are beginning to come apart in ways familiar to historians. On November 24, Turkish forces shot down a Russian military jet over what appeared to be Syrian airspace, re-igniting a conflict that raged on and off for 400 years. You don’t need to delve into the complete history of the Russo-Turkish wars, but some understanding of these two great empires is not only helpful, but riveting.
