The Ottoman Empire: basics

In short: The Ottoman Empire existed from around 1299 to 1922 and was one of the most powerful great powers in the world for centuries. With the conquest of Constantinople in 1453, it became the dominant power in the eastern Mediterranean.

In more detail: At the height of its power, the empire stretched across large parts of Southeast Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East.

In detail

• Founding: The empire grew from a small Anatolian principality under Osman I in the late 13th century.
• Conquest of Constantinople: Sultan Mehmed II ended the Byzantine Empire in 1453 and made the city the new capital, Istanbul.
• Administrative system: A highly developed, centralised system with provinces and loyal officials held the vast empire together.
• Religious tolerance: Under the millet system, non-Muslim communities could largely manage their own religious affairs.
• Janissaries: These elite troops formed the military backbone of the sultan for centuries.
• Decline: Internal power struggles, economic problems, and the rise of European powers weakened the empire from the 17th century onward.
• End of the empire: After the First World War, the Ottoman Empire was dissolved, and modern Turkey emerged from its remnants (byzantinisches-reich-grundlagen, erster-weltkrieg-ursachen-und-folgen).