Western History 79: How did the Ottoman Empire expand?

The Sunni Muslim dominated Ottoman Empire rose from one of the principalities in Anatolia (Turkey) to become the dominant force in the Middle East from the late Middle Ages to the 19^th century. It was the successor to the Seljuk sultanate and owes its foundation to Osman Gazi (Othman) who reigned between 1299 to 1323/4. The Empire would play a crucial role in the politics of Eastern Europe and was the primary source of Islamic expansion into Europe in the period from the 14^th to 17^th century.

The history of the Empire can be divided into five periods

·         The Rise (1299-1453)

·         Classical Age (1453-1550)

·         Transformation (1550-1700)

·         Stagnation and Reform (1700-1827)

·         Decline and Modernization (1828-1908)

The following timeline outlines the key events of the Empire including its interactions with both East and Western Europe until 1600. Later events in the Ottoman Empire will be discussed later on as they become more relevant to the chronology of the time.

1299 – Founding of Empire by Othman

1302 – Battle of Baphetus – First War against the Byzantines

1328-1331 – Ottomans take Nicaea

1371 – Victory over the Serbians at the Battle of Maritsa

1389 – Conquest of Serbia at the Battle of Kosovo

1399 – Building of the Great Mosque at Bursa by Bayezid I

1413 – Mehmed I ascends to the throne

1453 – Constantinople falls to the Ottomans. End of Byzantine Empire.

1463-79 – War with the Venetians. Ottoman victory.

1485-91 – Ottoman expansion stopped by Mamluks

1499 -1503 – Second Ottoman-Venetian War. Former prevails.

1520 – Reign of Sulamein the Magnificent begins. He will conquer Belgrade, Rhodes, Hungary. Vienna will be besieged but will not fall.

1526 – Ottoman victory over Hungarians at Battle of Mohács

1570-73 – Ottoman victory in Third War against Venice. Capture of Cyprus.

1571 – Key victory by the Christian Holy League over the Ottomans at the sea Battle of Lepanto. Turning point in Ottoman success in the West.

1579-90 – Ottomans battle Safavids (Persian dynasty) in the East. Empire reaches its height in that direction.

1596- Ottoman victory over Hungarians at Keresztes.