Keyword: Ottoman Empire

Ottoman Empire

The Ottoman Empire, also called the Turkish Empire, ruled areas of Europe, northern Africa, and the Middle East for over 600 years - from 1299 to 1922. ‘Ottoman’ is a name that comes from Osman, the Turkish chief who brought the empire together. A leaders like Osman was called ‘sultan’, a title similar to king or czar.

The Ottoman Empire replaced the Christian Byzantine (Roman) Empire in the eastern Mediterranean Sea region. In 1453, Sultan Mehmet II conquered Constantinople and it became the capital of the Ottoman Empire. The city was then, and still is now, an important crossroads for world cultures. People from the east and west have met there to trade goods for over 6 centuries. This city is now called Istanbul and is located in Turkey.

The Ottoman Empire controlled a very large area of land, including parts of modern Turkey, Egypt, Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Macedonia, Hungary, Palestine, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Saudi Arabia, and a large section of the coastal strip of northern Africa. From 1520 to 1566, the empire experienced a golden age, reaching its peak in size and riches. This was under the reign of Suleiman the Magnificent.

By 1683, the power of the empire was declining. With weak leaders and its people getting poorer, the empire officially ended on November 1, 1922. The sultans were removed from power and Turkey was declared a republic.