The Ottomans: Leading The Muslim Empires Throughout the Pre-Modern Era by Stefan Botev
By StefanBotev
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May 29, 1453
Siege of Constantinople
The conquest of Constantinople marked the end of the Byzantine Empire and the start of Islamic armies invading Europe through Asia. Also later became the Ottoman Empire's capital. -
Apr 3, 1463
Ottoman-Venetian War
The first of a chain of wars between the powers of Venice and the Ottoman Empire. The war started from Ottoman aggression in South-Eastern Europe, conquering more and more land until the Venetians couldn't handle the aggressive expansion and decided to limit the Ottomans themselves. And in the end it pressured the Ottomans to build a large navy, with the power to contend control of the Aegean Sea against Venice.. -
Jun 19, 1481
Struggle for the Throne between Sultan Cem and Bayezid II
Was a time of internal conflicts and a large standstill for the Ottoman empire. Occurred when Mehmed II died, leaving nobody in possession of the throne and causing the two relatives, Sultan Cem and Bayezid II to fight each other for succession of the throne. Ultimately Bayezid II won the fight and continued to be the ruler, while Sultan Cem ran away using Europeans help to flee. -
Aug 24, 1516
Ottoman-Mamluk War
The last war between the Ottomans and the Mamluks, causing the Mamluk Empire to fall, and allowing the Ottomans to rule over the Levant, Egypt, and the Arabian Peninsula. Turned the Ottoman empire from being on the outskirts of the Islamic world to now controlling the traditional lands of Islam. -
Jan 1, 1519
Jelali Revolts
The first revolt of many that would continue throughout the Ottoman reign, started initially on civil rights and later on focusing on oppressors who took land from common people. These revolts seriously impacted the levying and taxing of the empires Turkmen inhabitants. Also very similar to various Kurdish revolts that the Safavid empire was facing, although they were not as persistent as the Jelali Revolts, it stilled showed how both empires were faced with constant rebellions for civil rights. -
Sep 27, 1529
Siege of Vienna
The first attempt by the Ottomans to capture the city of Vienna, which signaled the strongest point in the Ottoman Empire power and the farthest expansion towards central Europe that the Ottomans were able to accomplish. Ending in failure they would try to reconquer the city at a later date but fail, causing them to lose much of their control in Europe. -
Nov 26, 1539
Sultanate of Women
A 130 year long period during the 16th and 17th centuries when the women showed strong political influence over state matters and over the male Ottoman Sultan. This even is extremely similar to when rulers in Japan and China were too involved in the arts instead of actually governing that the women had gained some political power. -
Aug 7, 1552
Capture of Muscat
Was a very important event, as it was one of the first collisions between the Ottomans and western colonizers, started over the Ottomans want of trade control in the Indian Ocean and signifies a stronger need of trade and control over trade routes versus the western colonizers (Portugal in particular). -
Sep 6, 1566
Suleiman the Magnificent
As the longest reigning Sultan the Ottoman empire was believed to have reached climax during his rule. He annexed much of the Middle East and Africa till the point when they had trouble continuing further military expeditions and made the Ottoman Fleet dominate much of the Mediterranean, Persian Gulf, and Red Sea. Also made major legislative changes relating to society, education, taxation and criminal law. He became a great patron of culture overseeing the Ottoman Golden Age. -
Jul 12, 1574
Conquest of Tunis
Final conquest of Tunis by the Ottomans over Spain. Holds great importance because it signified that North Africa was going to be under Muslim control instead of Christian control and stopped the expansion of Spanish Empires in that region. -
Treaty of Ferhad Pasha
Treaty between the Ottoman Empire and Safavid Persia. The Ottomans annexed large amounts of land from the Safavids and also forced them to pay obeisance to religious leaders of the Sunni faith. -
Köprülü Mehmed Pasha becomes Grand Vizier
When appointed Grand Vizier Mehmed Pasha quickly became a very important person in the history of Ottoman Empire. Throughout the time he was Grand Vizier he rebuilt the power of the empire by rooting out corruption and reorganizing the army. He also expanded the borders of the Empire defeating the Cossacks, Hungarians, and even the Venetians. -
Treaty of Karlowitz
Was the first major loss in territory after centuries of expansion and marked the end of Ottoman control in Central Europe while also establish the Habsburg Monarchy as the dominant power in South-Eastern Europe. -
Tulip Period
One of the only relatively peaceful periods during the Ottomans existence. It illustrated the conflicts brought about from early modern consumer culture, and although similar to our current capitalist consumer culture this one had much less focus over the consumer and still had much of the state being involved. The name being derived from the courts obsession with Tulips. -
Turkish Printing Press
The first major use of the printing press in the Ottoman Empire causing them to be able to quickly spread information and also publish non-religious books. Very important to the further spread of information in both the Ottoman empire and the rest of the world, and allowed common education to start getting some momentum, something rarely seen in previous time periods but more and more common in future eras.
