History glossary
Ottoman Empire
a long-lasting empire ruled from Turkey that controlled much of the Middle East, North Africa, and southeastern Europe.
- Category
- Empire
- Region
- Anatolia, Balkans, Middle East, North Africa
- Date range
- c. 1299-1922
What it means
The Ottoman Empire began in Anatolia and grew into a major power across three continents. Its rulers controlled Constantinople, governed many religious and ethnic communities, and remained central to European and Middle Eastern politics until the empire broke apart after the First World War.
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