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An Overview of the Ottoman Empire

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  1. The founding of the Ottoman Empire

    The Ottoman Empire began as a small Turkish principality in the Anatolian region in the late 13th century, gradually expanding its power under its founder, Osman I. Taking advantage of the power vacuum left when the Seljuk Empire was weakened by Mongol invasions, the House of Osman, one of several Turkish principalities scattered across Anatolia, rose to prominence and grew.

  2. The fall of Constantinople (1453, the end of the Byzantine Empire)

    In 1453, Sultan Mehmed II captured Constantinople, the capital of the Byzantine Empire, after a massive siege spearheaded by cannon. This brought about the fall of the Byzantine (Eastern Roman) Empire, which had lasted more than a thousand years, and the Ottoman Empire made the city its new capital, Istanbul.

  3. The golden age under Suleiman I

    During the reign of Suleiman I (r. 1520–1566) in the 16th century, the Ottoman Empire reached its peak, encompassing its greatest territorial extent across the Balkan Peninsula, the Middle East, and North Africa. Known in Europe as "Suleiman the Magnificent," he also left major achievements in military, administrative, and legal reform.

  4. The Janissary system (elite standing army)

    The Janissaries were a standing army under the direct command of the sultan, formed by conscripting and training Christian boys from conquered territories, and are considered one of the first standing armies in Europe, underpinning the Ottoman Empire's formidable military strength. Over time, the Janissaries grew in political influence, becoming, in the empire's later years, a force that constrained the sultan's power.

  5. A geopolitical position that controlled East-West trade routes

    The Ottoman Empire occupied a geographically strategic position connecting Europe and Asia, earning enormous profits by controlling trade routes for goods like spices and silk arriving from the East. This control over trade routes also became one of the factors behind the Age of Exploration, as European nations set out to find new sea routes.

  6. The empire's decline and dissolution after World War I

    From the 18th century onward, the Ottoman Empire gradually declined, falling behind the European powers militarily and economically, and lost most of its territory after siding with the Central Powers and losing World War I. Afterward, led by Mustafa Kemal AtatΓΌrk, the sultanate was abolished in 1922 and the Republic of Turkey was established in 1923, bringing to a close more than 600 years of imperial history.

A 600-year empire spanning three continents

The Ottoman Empire began as a small principality in Anatolia in the late 13th century and grew into an empire ruling vast territory stretching across the Balkan Peninsula, the Middle East, and North Africa, lasting more than 600 years until the early 20th century. Occupying a geopolitically strategic position connecting Europe, Asia, and Africa, it had a major influence on world history.

The background to the Ottoman Empire's rise: found in the Mongol conquests

The Ottoman Empire's rise was made possible in part by the vacuum left by the weakened Seljuk forces, covered in our guide to the expansion of the Mongol Empire. Take a look at how the rise and fall of these two empires were connected.

Frequently Asked Questions

When did the Ottoman Empire completely disappear?

Its power declined sharply after its defeat in World War I, and the empire's history came to a close when the sultanate was abolished in 1922 and the Republic of Turkey was established in 1923.

Why was the fall of Constantinople such a significant event?

Because it marked the end of the Byzantine Empire, which had lasted more than a thousand years, and because it was the decisive turning point at which the Ottoman Empire, having seized a key city connecting Europe and Asia, rose to become a great power.