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1326
Start of the Ottoman Empire
In 1326, the Ottomans captured lands near Bursa, cutting off Asia Minor from the Byzantine Empire. This was done by Osman l, the founder of the Ottoman Empire by winning a significant battle of Bapheus against the Byzantines. -
Period: 1326 to
The Ottoman Empire
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1329
Battle of Pelekanon
At Pelekanon, an Ottoman Turkish army blocked the advance of the Byzantine army. The Turks attacked the Byzantine army causing them many casualties. Never again did a Byzantine army attempt to regain any Asian territory -
1453
Siege of Constantinople
The Conquest of Constantinople was led by Sultan Mehmed ll of the Ottoman Empire. The Ottoman Empire forced itself through Constantinople's land wall after surrounding it for 55 days. -
1462
Building of the Topkapi Palace
As ruler of the Ottoman Empire, Sultan Mehmed ll viewed himself as the new Roman Emperor. He wanted to reflect his power with a symbol. So, he decided to start building the Topkapi Palace. -
1480
Constantinople Changes Name
The name Constantinople changed to Istanbul. This word derived from an everyday Greek name for the city meaning "to the city" -
1526
Ottoman Takes Over Hungary (Battle of Mohács)
The battle of Mohács led by Sultan Süleyman the Magnificent was a great victory for the Ottoman Empire. In turn, the mass destruction of the Hungarian Monarchy declined, which led to the Turkish dominance of Hungary (and occupancy). -
1574
Assert Control in North Africa
The Ottomans asserted more control in North Africa for many reasons. They wanted to ensure the security of its regions in the Eastern Mediterranean. As well as its political, commercial, and religious rivalries with Christian European states. -
Start of the Long Turkish War Period
The Long Turkish War began after the Ottomans launched a military campaign against the Habsburg Empire. The Ottomans were trying to gain control of Vienna, while the Habsburgs hoped to gain freedom for the Hungarian territories. -
End of The Long Turkish War
The Long War concluded with the Zsitvatorok peace agreement of 1606. This itself was the outcome of mutual exhaustion and other urgent issues. Both of the Empires gained new territories. -
Battle of Vienna
In the summer of 1683, the main army of the Ottoman Empire, a large and well-equipped force, besieged Vienna. However, after Vienna almost gave up, an army came to its rescue. This was significant because it had marked the beginning of the end of the Ottoman Empire. -
Ottoman Cede Hungary and Austria
The Ottoman Empire ceded or gave up Austria and Hungary territories by the Treaty of Karlowitz. The treaty established the Habsburg monarchy as the dominant power of the region. -
First Printing Press
The printing press in the Ottoman Empire was invented by Ibrahim Müteferrika in 1729. This invention was the most influential tool in the Ottoman Empire at the time in the political struggles that occurred towards the back half/falling of the Empire. -
First Official Newspaper Published
The first official newspaper publishing was very significant within the Ottoman Empire. It showed the idea of freedom expression as well as could be used for military censorship and propaganda. -
Start of Crimean War
The official cause of the Crimean War was a dispute between the Russian Czar, Nicholas l, and the Ottoman Emperor, Abdulmejid l. The dispute was about which empire would have authority over Orthodox Christians living in Ottoman territory. -
End of The Crimean War
The Crimean War was formally brought to an end with the signing of the Treaty of Paris. Russia accepted defeat against the Ottoman Empire and alliances like Britain, France, and Sardinia. The Russian Empire would take decades to recover. -
Start of the Final Russo-Turkish Wars
These wars were sparked originally around the idea that Russia wanted to establish a warm-water port on the Black Sea. This however was Turkish lands. -
End of the Russo-Turkish Wars
In March of 1878, Russia concluded the Treaty of San Stefano with Turkey. This treaty freed Romania, Serbia, and Montenegro from Turkish rule, gave independence to Bosnia and Herzegovina. This was another significant event that showed the decline of the Ottoman Empire. -
Bulgaria Becomes Independent
After the Treaty of San Stefano was signed in 1878, many surrounding nations and territories became independent from the Ottoman Empire. Therefore, in 1908, Bulgaria officially became independent. -
Joining of World War l
The Ottoman Empire fought the First World War for the sake of survival in the short term and independence and security in the long. They joined forces with Germany because they worried what might happen to their already weakened Empire in the face of a global war. -
End of The Ottoman Empire
Finally, after fighting on the side of Germany in World War I and suffering defeat, the empire was dismantled by a treaty and came to an end in 1922. The last Sultan, Mehmed VI left the capital Istanbul in a British warship.