1453-1683 THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE

1453 - 1683 The Rise of the Ottoman Empire. Constantinople falls to the Ottoman Turks in 1453. The Ottoman sultans dominate the Islamic world -- ruling over a region stretching from Iran to Morocco. The Ottoman Empire becomes the most powerful state in the Mediterranean, seizing European land in the Balkans and Hungary and twice laying siege to Vienna.

Key Figures in 'The Middle East and the West'

1453 - 1683: The Ottoman EmpireMehmed II (the Conqueror) Born 1432, Thrace. Died 1481 near Constantinople. Sultan of the Ottoman Empire twice, from 1444 to 1446, and from 1451 to 1481. During his second reign he captured Constantinople, ending the Byzantine Empire, and establishing the Ottoman state as a major power on the Mediterranean. He also consolidated Ottoman hold over all of Anatolia (modern-day Turkey) and over key territories in the Balkans.

Mehmed also reorganized the Ottoman government and began the codification of law. He proved to be tolerant of European scholarship and faith and gathered a large library of Latin and Greek texts in his palace. During his reign, he encouraged advances in the study of mathematics and astronomy. Suleiman I (the Magnificent) Born 1494 or 1495, died 1566 in Hungary. Ruling the Ottoman Empire as Sultan from 1520 to 1566, he expanded the empire to nearly its farthest reaches. He seized Belgrade in 1521 and much of Hungary by 1526. Suleiman set siege to Vienna in 1529, but was not successful in seizing the Habsburg city.

He waged a naval war in the Mediterranean against the forces of the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V. Suleiman also fought three campaigns against the Persians, to the east of the Ottoman frontier. He was a builder, known for his construction of mosques, bridges and other public works in both Europe and the Arab world.

Charles V Born 1500 Ghent; died 1558, Spain. Ruled as King of Spain, leader of the Habsburg Empire in the Netherlands and Austria, and Holy Roman Emperor, 1519 to 1556. Grandson of the Spanish monarchs, Ferdinand and Isabella, who expelled all Arabs and Jews from Spain in 1492, the same year they financed Columbus's first expedition to the New World.

Fought many European wars to hold onto his empire, and also faced intensifying pressure from the Ottoman Empire after Suleiman the Magnificent became Sultan. Charles raised a large army to defend the first Ottoman siege of Vienna. He abdicated the Spanish throne in favor of his son Philip (the Second).