The Ottoman empire

The Ottoman Empire or Turkish Empire was founded in North-West Anatolia at the end of 13th century by Osman, a leader of the Turkish Oghuz tribe.

The Ottoman Empire expanded its wings in Europe after 1354 with the occupation of the Balkans and transformed into a trans-continental realm.

The empire leaped to the zenith of power in the 16th and 17th centuries under the leadership of Suleiman, expanding to Western Asia, North Africa, parts of South East and Central Europe.

The Ottoman Empire was at the epicenter of communications between the East and West for six centuries with Constantinople as capital.

The empire comprised of 32 provinces and several vassal states in the beginning of the 17th century.

While some of them were wrapped up into the Ottoman Empire, a few were granted autonomy during later stages.

The empire continued to uphold a supple and stable economy, military and society throughout the 17th and most of the 18th century.

However, during the peace period between 1740 and 1768, its martial power fell behind Europe, losing significant wars in the 18th and 19th century, prompting the empire to start a wide-ranging reform and modernization process known as Tanzimat.

The Ottoman Empire was an ally of Germany in the First World War and its defeat in the war resulted in the partition of the empire and loss of Middle East territories.

Finally, the triumphant Turkish War of Independence propelled the creation of the Republic of Turkey in the Anatolian heartland and the obliteration of the Ottoman Empire and the Caliphate.