Ottoman Empire
Renaissance: An Encyclopedia for Students, 2004
For more than 600 years, the Ottoman Empire ruled large parts of southeastern Europe, the Middle East, and east
Africa. Founded in the late 1200s, the empire achieved its greatest size and strength during the Renaissance, when it
extended well into eastern Europe. Its efforts to expand farther brought it into conflict with the Holy Roman Empire* of
the Hapsburg dynasty and with other European powers.
Historical Overview.
By the late 1400s the Ottoman Turks* had created a vast empire. In 1453 their ruler MEHMED II (1432–1481) used
overwhelming force to conquer CONSTANTINOPLE, the capital of the Byzantine Empire*. Within 30 years the
Ottoman Empire had taken over several states in eastern Europe, including Serbia, Bosnia, and Herzegovina. It also
dominated the states of Montenegro and Albania, but they remained independent. Venice surrendered some of its
outlying land to the empire in 1479. Under SÜLEYMAN I (ca. 1495–1566), the Ottomans hoped to advance even
farther into Europe. But in their attempt to do so, they encountered the Holy Roman Empire ruled by CHARLES V.
The two empires first confronted one another in HUNGARY, where the Turks destroyed the armies of Hungarian king
Louis II in 1526. The Ottomans then laid siege* to Vienna in 1529. To end the siege and free the city, the Habsburg
rulers had to recognize Ottoman rule over most of Hungary and parts of Romania. Ottoman conquest of other areas of
eastern Europe and lands bordering the Black Sea followed.
The conflict between the Ottoman and Habsburg empires extended to the Mediterranean Sea, where the Turkish navy
fought against the forces of Spain and Venice. These battles ended in the destruction of the Turkish fleet at the Battle of
Lepanto (1571). Many scholars regard this defeat as the beginning of the decline of the Ottoman Empire.
The Ottoman State and Society.
Ottoman rule brought a long period of peace to the lands controlled by the empire. Although Ottoman rulers held
almost absolute power, they governed efficiently and allowed the practice of different religions.
The Ottoman sultan* acted as military chief, lawgiver, and religious leader. As the commander of the armed forces, the
sultan led his armies in jihad, or holy war, against unbelievers. As lawgiver, he served as the head of legal and religious
hierarchies* that controlled almost every aspect of human conduct. The sultan exercised these extensive powers through
a system of government established by Mehmed II in the late 1400s.
The basic law of the Ottoman Empire—the Kanoun Namé—established the state structure and regulated the social
order. A central council assisted the sultan. He appointed all the council members, including the grand vizier, who was
the chief minister of state and leader of armies in the field. High­ranking administrators called pashas ran the large cities
These officials served only at the sultan's pleasure.
The Ottomans divided society into two main categories. The first distinguished Muslims from non­Muslims, while the
second identified those connected with the state and its institutions—known as "professional Ottomans"—from the rest
of the population. Most "professional Ottomans" came from a system of slavery in which Christian male children had to
convert to Islam. These slaves served in the military, worked at the palace, or performed other tasks. Many became
trusted government officials.
Under Ottoman rule religious groups could practice their faith freely. At a time when Jews suffered persecution
throughout Europe, the Ottoman Empire welcomed them for their skills and for their contacts with the outside world.
Ottoman Impact on Europe.
The Ottoman Empire's conquest of Constantinople and its control of the eastern Mediterranean undermined the
dominant position of Venice and Genoa in regional trade. Merchants from these Italian cities were forced to look
elsewhere for markets. The Ottoman expansion also increased Western fears of the Muslims and may have contributed
to the Holy Roman Empire's decision in 1555 to recognize the legal rights of Protestants. Needing the support of
Protestants in fighting the Turks, the Habsburgs took steps to come to terms with the followers of Martin LUTHER.
Many Europeans ignored the Ottoman Empire's advanced methods of government, its tolerance of ethnic and religious
diversity, and its scientific and cultural achievements. Instead, they condemned the Ottoman conquests as brutal and
viewed the Turks as a threat to Christian civilization. Others, such as Luther and Desiderius ERASMUS, saw the Turks
as a sign of God's anger toward Europe and urged repentance and reform. However, as the Renaissance progressed,
the threat of the Ottoman Turks became of less concern to Europe.
* Holy Roman Empire
political body in central Europe composed of several states; existed until 1806
* Ottoman Turks
Turkish followers of Islam who founded the Ottoman Empire in the 1300s; the empire eventually included large areas of
eastern Europe, the Middle East, and northern Africa
* Byzantine Empire
Eastern Christian Empire based in Constantinople (A.D. 476–1453)
* siege
prolonged effort to force a surrender by surrounding a fortress or town with armed troops, cutting the area off from aid
* sultan
ruler of a Muslim state
* hierarchy
organization of a group into higher and lower levels
Source Citation:
"Ottoman Empire." Renaissance: An Encyclopedia for Students. Ed. Paul F. Grendler. Vol. 3. New York: Charles
Scribner's Sons, 2004. 132­134. Gale World History In Context. Web. 6 May 2012.