The Ottoman Empire was founded in the late 13th century in Anatolia by the Turkish tribal leader Osman I.

The Ottomans expanded rapidly, conquering territory from the weakening Byzantine Empire and other Turkish principalities.

They crossed into Europe in the 14th century, establishing a strong foothold in the Balkans.

The conquest of Constantinople in 1453 by Sultan Mehmed II marked the end of the Byzantine Empire and the rise of the Ottomans as a world power.

Constantinople, renamed Istanbul, became the new Ottoman capital.

In the 16th century, the empire expanded to control Egypt, Syria, North Africa, and Hungary.

The Ottomans' success was built on a strong, centralized state and a powerful military, featuring the elite Janissary infantry.

At its peak, the Ottoman Empire was a vast, multicultural state that controlled key trade routes between Europe and Asia.

The empire was an Islamic caliphate, with the Sultan also holding the title of Caliph.

The Ottoman Empire was a major force in global politics for over 600 years.