Middle East
The Ottoman Empire took control of the Middle East when they captured Constantinople in 1453 and renamed it Istanbul. The Ottomans would continue to rule for the next 200 years. The Ottoman Empire was golden under Suleiman. Suleiman modernized the army and conquered many new lands. At its height, the Ottoman Empire spread from Hungary to Arabia and to the Mediterranean Sea. Suleiman strengthened the government, giving him absolute power, but he had help from a council. A huge bureaucracy supervised the economy and military kept the peace. The Ottoman society was divided into classes, each with its appointed role. Soldiers were at the top, next were the scientists, lawyers and poets, below were merchants and artisans, and at the bottom were the farmers and herders. The Ottomans would tax Christian families and made them slaves. The arts flourished under the Ottomans, too. There were many poets and painters who were influenced by the Turks. Many mosques and palaces were built also.
After Suleiman's death in 1566, the Ottoman Emoire slowly declined. The government was ruled by ministers and the bureaucracy was corrupt. By the 1700s, European advances in the economy and military left the Ottoman way behind. The Ottoman lands were captured by Russia and other European countries and Africa broke free of Ottoman control. Sultans, or rulers, tried to revive the Ottoman Empire, but were all unsuccessful.
After Suleiman's death in 1566, the Ottoman Emoire slowly declined. The government was ruled by ministers and the bureaucracy was corrupt. By the 1700s, European advances in the economy and military left the Ottoman way behind. The Ottoman lands were captured by Russia and other European countries and Africa broke free of Ottoman control. Sultans, or rulers, tried to revive the Ottoman Empire, but were all unsuccessful.
The Fall of Constantinople
From a Greek point of view:
http://www.greece.org/Romiosini/fall.html
In this article, a Greek describes the chaos that occured when the Ottoman Empire captured Constantinople. The Greeks were extremely upset that their flourishing city was overthrown and many died. This was essentially the fall of the Holy Roman Empire.
http://www.greece.org/Romiosini/fall.html
In this article, a Greek describes the chaos that occured when the Ottoman Empire captured Constantinople. The Greeks were extremely upset that their flourishing city was overthrown and many died. This was essentially the fall of the Holy Roman Empire.
Life in the Middle East
A Turkish traveler's account of the Middle East:
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/16CSidi1.asp
This traveler described the strong army, various landscapes, fabulous art, and thriving economy during the Ottoman Empire.
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/16CSidi1.asp
This traveler described the strong army, various landscapes, fabulous art, and thriving economy during the Ottoman Empire.