Here is the first major history in decades--and the first-ever original study in English--off an epic encounter between the Christian and Islamic worlds. In 1571, at Lepanto, in the gulf between mainland Greece and the Peloponnese, the fleets of the Ottoman Empire and the Holy League clashed in the final great battle between oared fighting ships. This outstanding military event marked a significant turning point in history, and one that still resonates powerfully today. It is a must read for anyone interested in why Christianity and Islam seem perpetually at war.