For over six centuries, the Ottoman Empire was one of the most formidable powers in the world, bridging East and West through a vast territory that spanned three continents. From humble beginnings in the Anatolian highlands, the Ottomans rose with extraordinary speed.
At its peak, the empire commanded strategic trade routes, hosted a rich tapestry of ethnicities and faiths, and developed a sophisticated administrative system that held together an astonishingly diverse population. But much like every empire that came before, the Ottoman dynasty eventually fell to its knees.
How did this massive empire spread so fast and so far? And why did it reach its end? Click through this gallery to find out.