Guide Note

At its height during the 16th century, the Ottoman Empire controlled an area that included portions of Central and Southeastern Europe and North Africa, including territory which is now the countries of Hungary, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Romania, Greece, Ukraine, Iraq, Syria, Israel, Egypt and Algeria.¹ By the time it disbanded, after World War I, its territory was limited to Asia Minor.

Fast Facts

1. AKA: Osmanic Empire²
2. Period: 1299-1922
3. Capitals:
   • Sogut (1299–1326)
   • Bursa (1326–1365)
   • Edirne (1365–1453)
   • Istanbul (1453–1922)

Osman I (1259-1356) founded the Ottoman Empire in the 13th century. In 1453, with the conquest of Constantinople, the Ottomans succeeded the Byzantine Empire³ as the most powerful state in the world. ⁴

The wealth and prosperity of the Ottoman Empire was generated by their control of major trade routes.⁴ As Europe entered a period of exploration, ships were able to bypass the routes controlled by the Ottomans. At the same time, the empire was facing internal challenges⁵ such as the management of diverse ethnic groups, the inability to govern a large territory and the economic difficulties caused by an increasing population. Wars with expanding European countries led to territory loss. These external and internal pressures prepared the way for the rise of nationalism in the 19th century, ultimately resulting in the formation of the Republic of Turkey in 1923.

• Osman I 1299-1326
• Orhan I 1326-1359
• Murad I 1359-1389
• Bayezid I 1389-1402
• Mehmed I 1413-1421
• Murad II 1421-1451
• Mehmed II 1451-1481
• Bayezid II 1481-1512
• Selim I 1512-1520
• Suleiman I 1520-1566
• Selim II 1566-1574
• Murad III 1574-1595
• Mehmed III 1595-1603
• Ahmed I 1603-1617
• Osman II 1618-1622
• Mustafa I 1622-1623
• Murad IV 1623-1640
• Mehmed IV 1648-1687
• Suleiman II 1687-1691
• Ahmed II 1691-1695
• Mustafa II 1695-1703
• Ahmed III 1703-1730
• Mahmud I 1730-1754
• Osman III 1754-1757
• Mustafa III 1757-1774
• Abdul Hamid I 1774-1789
• Selim III 1789-1807
• Mustafa IV 1807-1808
• Mahmud II 1808-1839
• Abdülmecid I 1839-1861
• Abdülaziz 1861-1876
• Murad V 1876
• Abdul Hamid II 1876-1909
• Mehmed V 1909-1918
• Mehmed VI 1918-1922