Constantinople

In Episode One Julian visits Istanbul, the gateway between East and West and former epicenter of the Ottoman Empire where he explores the inner workings of the Ottoman system, the secrets of its invincible army and navy, and the intrigues and power games of the Sultan’s private world inside the imperial Topkopi Palace.

He samples the beer of Ottoman warriors before setting sail for the legendary island of Rhodes, a former stronghold of the Christian Crusaders known as the Knights of St. John who dared to take on the full might of the Ottoman military machine and survived.