The Ottoman-Hapsburg wars was a series of conflicts between the Ottoman Empire and Hapsburg Dynasty which ruled a variety of states such as Spain, Austria, and Italian city states. The conflict raged from the plains of Hungary to Islands in the Mediterranean to the Indian Ocean, European states fought for supremacy over the vital trade routes and strategic positions throughout the world. Key battles were the sieges at Rhodes, Tunis, and Malta. The campaign culminated in the sea battle at Lepanto which was one of the largest naval clashes in Maritime history involving over 490 ships . It was the last of the great clashes between Islam and Christianity as Ottoman power peaked.  I had the opportunity to interview Roger Crowley who is the New York Times Bestselling author of "Empires of the Sea". His other work includes, "1453", "City of Fortune: How Venice Ruled the Seas", "Conquerors: How Portugal Forged the First Global Empire" and his most recent book is "The Accursed Tower: The Fall of Acre and the End of the Crusades". An interesting interview and great episode about one of the most overlooked periods in World History.