The Ottoman Empire was a Turkish dynasty created by Osman I in 1289. It was the longest surviving dynasty in history, lasting until 1923. By the end of the 17th century, the Ottoman empire included most of Hungary, the Balkan Peninsula and the islands of the Aegean, Crete, Cyprus, Asia Minor, the Crimea, lands surrounding the Black Sea, most of northern Africa, the eastern and western lands of Arabia and the countries of Syria, Jordan, Iraq, Egypt, and Palestine. The Turkish rulers were tolerant of religions and the people were permitted to practice their own religion and hold positions of authority.

Osman I was a warrior or note in southwestern Asia. He extended his rule over the lands that he claimed from the Seljuk Turks by means of nominal overlords. His son, Orkham, brought the Turks into Europe when he and his forces plundered the lands in the southern part of the Balkan Peninsula. They occupied the Dardanelles and created the Janizaries, who were prisoners of war that were trained to serve as guards for the ruler.

Adrianople was captured by Murad I in 1361. More victories followed so that the Ottomans gained control of the Balkan Peninsula as far as the Danube River by 1389. When Bajazet I became the sultan in 1394, a large portion of Asia Minor became part of the growing empire. Two years later his forces defeated a contingent of crusaders sent to stop their westward advance and plans were made to take Constantinople. However, Bajazet I was defeated and captured in 1402 by Tartans led by Tamerlane.

By 1421, the Ottoman Empire had recovered from this defeat and under Murad II more territory was annexed. Constantinople was captured in 1453 by Mohammed II and by 1481, this sultan had added the lands of Serbia, Bosnia, Albania and southern Greece to the Ottoman domain.

Selim I, who was known as Selim the Grim due to his extremes of cruelty, waged war against the rulers of Egypt and Persia in the early 16th century. He made Syria, Palestine and Egypt three separate provinces of the Empire. When he captured Algiers in 1518, he assumed the title of Caliph, the title traditionally given to the ruler of Islam.

The greatest glory of the Ottoman Empire came in the reign of Suleiman I, who was also known as Suleiman the Magnificent. Most of Hungary was captured in 1526 and by 1541, the Empire included Transylvania, Moldavia and Walachia. A long lasting relationship between Turkey and France was forged in 1546 and Suleiman brought reforms to the system of government at this time. Cyprus was brought into the fold of the Empire in 1571, but the Turkish Navy suffered a terrible blow in this year with its destruction in the Battle of Lepanto.

During the first half of the 17th century, no new conquests took place and the Janizaries had lost their former level of discipline. They rebelled against the sultan from time to time and became more corrupt. Thus the government was in constant turmoil. In 1617, a change was made to the law of royal succession which saw the subsequent rulers becoming more and more incompetent and the real power fell into the hands of the chief ministers.

The Ottoman Empire stagnated and the administration was riddled with corruption. This was the beginning of the end for this once great empire which allied itself with Germany in World War I. The terms of the peace treaty took away the Arab lands. A revolt in 1922 drove out the last sultan of the empire and in 1923, the Ottoman Empire was no more.

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