The Ottoman dynasty was first established in the 12th century and later emerged into the Ottoman Empire in the 15th century. The Ottoman's came to power when they conquered the eastern territories of the Byzantine Empire, and later took more of the Byzantine lands in western Turkey and Southeastern Europe. Another way the Ottoman's came to power was in 1453, when they conquered Constantinople, which was the capital of the Byzantine Empire. The Byzantine Empire kept getting weaker as the Ottomans kept attacking. The Byzantines didn't have the powerful family that the Ottomans had.
The leader of the Ottoman Empire was Sultan Suleiman. He ruled from 1520 to 1566, and he led the Ottoman Empire to become the most powerful force in the world. Some of the things he did was double the size of the empire and expanded it throughout the Balkans and Hungary and as far west as Vienna.
Territorial changes of the Ottoman Empire
1922, Departure of Mehmed VI who was the last Sult...
This portrait of Suleyman the Magnificent, Sultan ...He also felt the need for an increase in the educational system and the development of the infrastructure, and the dominance of Islam throughout the empire.
The Ottoman Empire was also known as the ruthless and cruel conquerors. They were known for being this because they imposed crippling taxes on the empires they conquered, and in Greece they took male children to work for the family and the girls they took to work in the sultan's harem. Those actions led to many rebellions throughout the empire.
The Ottoman Empire fell during World War 1, as Turkey was fighting on the loosing end of the war, and in 1923 Turkey became a republic. The present day country of the Ottoman Empire is Turkey.