The ottoman empire was so big and lasted for so long, yet it is one of those empires that many common people have forgotten about. The people who lived in what is now turkey, and in surrounding areas, were mostly devout muslims who were defending their beliefs and trying to expand the realm to conquer more territory. Shockingly, the empire was slowly falling apart by the time the 20th century came around the corner. In the 20th century, world war i destroyed much of what was left of the empire, and the turkish state and culture was being established shortly after that. Inside you will read about... - Emergence of the ottoman dynasty - The fall of constantinople - Selim the grim and suleiman the magnificent - Sultanate of women - The crimean war - Decline until world war i - And much more! The ottoman conquest of constantinople also played a decisive role in fostering the renaissance in western europe. The byzantine empire's influence had helped ensure that it was the custodian of various ancient texts, most notably from the ancient greeks, and when constantinople fell, byzantine refugees flocked west to seek refuge in europe. Those refugees brought books that helped spark an interest in antiquity that fueled the italian renaissance and essentially put an end to the middle ages altogether

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