The Foundation Period of the Ottoman Empire

The establishment of the Ottoman Empire began in Anatolia in the 13th century. The Ottomans, by founding the Ottoman Beylik, one of the Turkish principalities, began to conquer different regions of Anatolia. The Ottomans also entered Rumelia, taking advantage of the weakening of the Byzantine Empire. In 1453, with the conquest of Istanbul, the Ottomans became a great power. The Ottoman Empire is one of the longest-lasting empires in world history. Surviving for approximately 600 years, the Ottoman Empire witnessed significant political, cultural, and economic developments. In this article, we will examine the history of the Ottoman Empire under three main headings: The Foundation, Rise, and Decline Periods.

The Rise Period

The rise period of the Ottoman Empire coincides with the reign of Fatih Sultan Mehmet. With the conquest of Istanbul, Fatih Sultan Mehmet transformed the Ottoman Empire into a world empire. The Ottomans conquered the Balkans, the Middle East, North Africa, and many regions of Europe. During this period, the Ottoman Empire also showed great cultural development. Istanbul became one of the world's cultural capitals. The administrative structure of the Ottoman Empire became centralized.

The Decline Period

The decline period of the Ottoman Empire began in the mid-17th century. The Ottoman Empire began to lose its military and economic superiority against other European states. Problems that emerged in the administrative structure negatively affected the functioning of the state. In the late 19th century, the Ottoman Empire began to be colonized by European states. In the early 20th century, a large part of the Ottoman Empire's territories was lost. In 1923, the Republic of Turkey was founded in place of the Ottoman Empire.