Comparing Timelines
Exploring the overlapping histories of "Renaissance" and "Ottoman Empire".
Renaissance
1250 - 1650
Ottoman Empire
1299 - 1924
1250 CE
Beginning of Italian Proto-Renaissance
The Italian Proto-Renaissance begins around 1250-1300, marking the earliest phase of the Renaissance movement. This period saw the emergence of new artistic and intellectual approaches that would later flourish into the full Renaissance. It represents the transition from medieval to early modern European culture.
1265 CE
Dante Alighieri's Literary Contributions
Dante Alighieri (1265-1321) produces his major works, including the Divine Comedy, which exemplify the early Renaissance spirit. His writings represent some of the first traces of Renaissance ideas in Italy, combining classical influences with vernacular language. Dante's work is considered foundational to Renaissance literature and thought.
1267 CE
Giotto's Revolutionary Paintings
Giotto di Bondone (1267-1337) creates groundbreaking paintings that mark a departure from medieval artistic conventions. He is credited with first treating a painting as a window into space, developing early techniques of realistic representation. His work represents a crucial step toward Renaissance artistic realism.
1299 CE
Foundation of the Ottoman Beylik
Osman I establishes a small principality in northwestern Anatolia, founding what would become the Ottoman Empire. This beylik emerged from the fragmented Anatolian Beyliks following the decline of the Rum Sultanate. Osman's early followers consisted of Turkish tribal groups and Byzantine renegades.
1302 CE
Battle of Bapheus
Ottoman forces under Osman I defeat the Byzantines at Bapheus, marking a significant early victory that contributed to Osman's rise and Ottoman expansion into Byzantine territory. This battle demonstrated the military effectiveness of the early Ottoman forces.
1304 CE
Petrarch's Humanist Influence
Francesco Petrarch (1304-1374) develops humanist ideas and literary works that become foundational to Renaissance thought. He is credited by contemporaries with the 14th-century resurgence of learning based on classical sources. Petrarch's work in recovering ancient texts and promoting classical learning helps establish Renaissance humanism.
1324 CE
Death of Osman I
Osman I, founder of the Ottoman Empire, dies and is succeeded by his son Orhan. Under Osman's leadership, the small beylik had begun its transformation from a tribal confederation into an organized state that would eventually become a major empire.
1326 CE
Capture of Bursa
Orhan, son of Osman I, captures the northwestern Anatolian city of Bursa from the Byzantines, making it the new Ottoman capital. This conquest marked a significant expansion of Ottoman territory and established their first major urban center, supplanting Byzantine control in the region.
1330 CE
Petrarch Defines Historical Periods
In the 1330s, Petrarch refers to pre-Christian times as 'antiqua' (ancient) and to the Christian period as 'nova' (new), establishing an early framework for historical periodization. This conceptual division would later influence how Renaissance thinkers viewed their relationship to classical antiquity and the medieval period.
1338 CE
Ambrogio Lorenzetti's Political Frescoes
Ambrogio Lorenzetti paints 'The Allegory of Good and Bad Government' (1338-1340), an early Renaissance fresco cycle with strong messages about virtues of fairness, justice, republicanism and good administration. This work represents the emergence of political philosophy in Renaissance art and the anti-monarchical thinking of Italian city-republics.
1348 CE
Black Death Devastates Europe
The Black Death pandemic hits Europe between 1348 and 1350, causing massive social and economic upheaval. In Florence, the population is nearly halved in 1348. The plague's devastation leads to significant social changes, including increased value of the working class and greater social mobility, which some theorize contributed to Renaissance developments.
1387 CE
Capture of Thessaloniki
Ottoman forces capture the important port city of Thessaloniki from the Venetians and sack it. This conquest demonstrated Ottoman naval capabilities and their expansion into strategically important Mediterranean ports, challenging Venetian commercial dominance.
1389 CE
Battle of Kosovo
Ottoman victory at Kosovo effectively marks the end of Serbian power in the region, paving the way for Ottoman expansion into Europe. This decisive battle established Ottoman dominance in the Balkans and opened the path for further European conquests.
1396 CE
Manuel Chrysoloras Teaches Greek in Florence
Byzantine diplomat and scholar Manuel Chrysoloras (c. 1355-1415) is invited by Coluccio Salutati to teach Greek in Florence in 1396. This marks the beginning of the systematic reintegration of Greek literary, historical, and theological texts into Western European curriculum, a crucial development in Renaissance humanism.
Battle of Nicopolis
Ottoman forces defeat a large crusading army at Nicopolis, regarded as the last large-scale crusade of the Middle Ages. This victory failed to stop Ottoman advance and demonstrated their military superiority over European coalition forces, securing their position in the Balkans.
1401 CE
Competition for Florence Cathedral Doors
Lorenzo Ghiberti and Filippo Brunelleschi compete for the contract to build the bronze doors for the Baptistery of Florence Cathedral in 1401, with Ghiberti winning. This competition is sometimes cited as a precise starting point for the Renaissance, representing the rivalry and creativity that sparked Renaissance artistic innovation.
1402 CE
Battle of Ankara
Timur defeats Ottoman forces and captures Sultan Bayezid I, throwing the empire into disorder. This devastating defeat by the Timurid Empire temporarily relieved Byzantine pressure on Constantinople and led to a period of Ottoman civil war and fragmentation.
1413 CE
End of Ottoman Interregnum
The Ottoman civil war ends when Mehmed I emerges as sultan and restores Ottoman power. This period of succession struggle among Bayezid's sons lasted from 1402 to 1413, during which the empire was divided and weakened, but Mehmed's victory reunified the state.
1421 CE
Brunelleschi's Old Sacristy
Filippo Brunelleschi completes the Old Sacristy (1421-1440), one of the first buildings to use pilasters as an integrated system in Renaissance architecture. This work demonstrates the Renaissance architectural style that emulated and improved on classical forms, marking a significant development in architectural design.
1430 CE
Palmieri's Plague Dialogues
During the plague of 1430, Matteo Palmieri composes dialogues set in a country house in the Mugello countryside outside Florence. These works explore humanist ideals about civic life, child development, moral conduct, and the qualities of the ideal citizen, representing the development of Renaissance civic humanism.
1440 CE
Invention of the Printing Press
The printing press is invented around 1440, revolutionizing the dissemination of ideas and knowledge. This technological innovation democratizes learning and allows faster propagation of Renaissance ideas across Europe. The printing press becomes crucial to the spread of humanist texts and scientific knowledge.
1442 CE
Leonardo Bruni's Historical Periodization
Leonardo Bruni completes his 'History of the Florentine People' in 1442, becoming the first to use tripartite periodization. He divides history into three periods based on Petrarch's framework but adds a third period, believing Italy was no longer in decline. This establishes a new way of understanding historical periods.
1444 CE
Battle of Varna
Murad II repels the Crusade of Varna by defeating Hungarian, Polish, and Wallachian armies under Władysław III of Poland and John Hunyadi. This victory secured Ottoman control over the Balkans and ended the last major crusading effort against the empire.
1448 CE
Second Battle of Kosovo
John Hunyadi's second attempt to attack the Turks with Hungarian and Wallachian forces is defeated at Kosovo. This victory further consolidated Ottoman control over the Balkans and demonstrated the futility of European attempts to roll back Ottoman expansion.
1450 CE
Nicholas of Cusa's Infinite Universe
Writing around 1450, Nicholas of Cusa claims that the universe must be infinite in extent and therefore devoid of a center. This represents an early challenge to traditional Aristotelian and Ptolemaic views of the universe, contributing to the scientific developments that would characterize the Renaissance.
1453 CE
Fall of Constantinople
Constantinople falls to the Ottoman Empire in 1453, generating a wave of émigré Greek scholars bringing precious manuscripts in ancient Greek to Western Europe. Many of these texts had fallen into obscurity in the West, and their arrival significantly enriches Renaissance scholarship and contributes to the Greek phase of Renaissance humanism.
Conquest of Constantinople
Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror captures Constantinople, ending the Byzantine Empire after over 1,000 years. This monumental achievement made the Ottomans masters of the strategic Bosphorus strait and established them as a major European power, with Constantinople becoming their new capital.
1465 CE
Palmieri's Poetic Work
Matteo Palmieri completes his poetic work 'La città di vita' in 1465, which provides perhaps the most succinct expression of his perspective on humanism. This work, along with his earlier 'Della vita civile', helps define Renaissance civic humanism and the ideal of the educated citizen.
1469 CE
First Use of 'Middle Ages' Term
The term 'Middle Ages' first appears in Latin in 1469 as 'media tempestas' (middle times). This represents the Renaissance intellectual framework of viewing history in periods, with humanist historians arguing that contemporary scholarship restored direct links to the classical period, bypassing the medieval period.
1472 CE
András Hess Establishes Printing in Buda
András Hess sets up a printing press in Buda in 1472, bringing printing technology to Hungary. This development helps spread Renaissance ideas and humanist texts in Central Europe, contributing to the Hungarian Renaissance and the broader dissemination of Renaissance culture beyond Italy.
1476 CE
King Matthias Marries Beatrice of Naples
King Matthias Corvinus of Hungary marries Beatrice of Naples in 1476, making Buda one of the most important artistic centers of the Renaissance north of the Alps. This marriage brings Italian Renaissance culture directly to Hungary and establishes strong cultural connections between Hungary and Italy.
1479 CE
Matthias Begins Major Building Projects
King Matthias Corvinus starts major building projects in Buda and Visegrád around 1479, rebuilding the palace at Visegrád in Renaissance style and adding new wings to the royal castle of Buda. He appoints Italian Chimenti Camicia and Dalmatian Giovanni Dalmata to direct these projects, bringing Renaissance architecture to Hungary.
1485 CE
Leonardo da Vinci Visits Hungary
In spring 1485, Leonardo da Vinci travels to Hungary on behalf of Sforza to meet King Matthias Corvinus and is commissioned by him to paint a Madonna. This visit represents the international reach of Renaissance artistic patronage and the cultural connections between Italian artists and European courts.
1486 CE
Pico della Mirandola's Oration
Giovanni Pico della Mirandola writes 'De hominis dignitate' (Oration on the Dignity of Man) in 1486, a series of theses on philosophy, natural thought, faith, and magic. This work, often called the 'Manifesto of the Renaissance,' provides a vibrant defense of thinking and represents a crucial contribution to Renaissance humanism.
1489 CE
Bartolomeo della Fonte Praises Corvinus Library
In 1489, Bartolomeo della Fonte of Florence writes that Lorenzo de' Medici founded his own Greek-Latin library encouraged by the example of Hungarian King Matthias Corvinus. The Bibliotheca Corviniana was Europe's greatest collection of secular books and second only to the Vatican Library in size.
1492 CE
Columbus Discovers the Americas
Christopher Columbus sails across the Atlantic Ocean from Spain in 1492, seeking a direct route to India but accidentally discovering the Americas. This discovery has a profound impact on European intellectual life, challenging classical worldviews and contributing to the Scientific Revolution by disproving central claims about the world.
1495 CE
Italian Renaissance Arrives in France
The Italian Renaissance arrives in France in 1495, imported by King Charles VIII after his invasion of Italy. This marks the beginning of the French Renaissance, as Italian art, artists, and cultural ideas begin to influence French court culture and artistic production.
Luca Pacioli Publishes First Accounting Work
At the end of the 15th century, Luca Pacioli publishes the first work on bookkeeping, making him the founder of accounting. This represents the application of Renaissance innovation to commerce and the development of modern business practices that would support the growing merchant economy.
1505 CE
John I Albert's Renaissance Tomb
The tomb of John I Albert, completed in 1505 by Francesco Fiorentino, becomes the first example of a Renaissance composition in Poland. This marks the beginning of Renaissance artistic influence in Poland and the introduction of Italian Renaissance styles to Central European art and architecture.
1514 CE
Battle of Chaldiran
Sultan Selim I defeats Shah Ismail of Safavid Iran at Chaldiran, dramatically expanding Ottoman eastern and southern frontiers. This victory established Ottoman dominance over eastern Anatolia and northern Mesopotamia, while also securing the empire's eastern border against Persian expansion.
1517 CE
Luther's Ninety-Five Theses
In October 1517, Martin Luther publishes the Ninety-Five Theses, challenging papal authority and criticizing perceived corruption, particularly regarding sold indulgences. This leads to the Reformation, a break with the Roman Catholic Church, demonstrating how Renaissance humanism and textual criticism contributed to religious reform movements.
Ottoman Conquest of Egypt
Selim I defeats and annexes the Mamluk Sultanate of Egypt, establishing Ottoman rule in Egypt and creating a naval presence on the Red Sea. This conquest brought the wealthy province of Egypt under Ottoman control and positioned the empire to compete with Portuguese expansion in the Indian Ocean.
1518 CE
Bona Sforza Marries Sigismund I
Bona Sforza of Milan marries King Sigismund I of Poland in 1518, bringing many Italian artists to Poland. This marriage significantly strengthens the Polish Renaissance by introducing Italian artistic and cultural influences directly to the Polish court and establishing stronger cultural ties between Poland and Italy.
1519 CE
Magellan-Elcano Circumnavigation
Between 1519 and 1522, the Magellan-Elcano expedition achieves the first circumnavigation of Earth in history, including the first crossing of the Pacific by a European expedition. This voyage reveals the vast scale of the Pacific Ocean and dramatically expands European geographical knowledge during the Renaissance period of exploration.
Château de Chambord Construction Begins
Construction begins on Château de Chambord (1519-1547), one of the most famous examples of Renaissance architecture in France. This project represents the French adoption and adaptation of Italian Renaissance architectural styles, demonstrating how Renaissance culture spread and evolved across different European regions.
1521 CE
Capture of Belgrade
Suleiman the Magnificent captures Belgrade, opening the path for Ottoman expansion into Central Europe. This strategic victory removed a key Hungarian fortress and paved the way for the Ottoman conquest of much of the Kingdom of Hungary.
1526 CE
Battle of Mohács
Suleiman the Magnificent achieves a historic victory at Mohács, establishing Ottoman rule in the territory of present-day Hungary and other Central European territories. This decisive battle effectively ended Hungarian independence and opened Central Europe to Ottoman expansion.
1527 CE
Sack of Rome Ends Italian Renaissance
Holy Roman Emperor Charles V launches an assault on Rome in 1527 during the War of the League of Cognac, effectively concluding the Italian Renaissance. Despite this political catastrophe, the Renaissance's artistic impact endures in the work of Italian painters like Tintoretto, Sofonisba Anguissola, and Paolo Veronese.
1528 CE
Palmieri's Civic Life Published
Matteo Palmieri's work 'Della vita civile' (On Civic Life) is printed in 1528, advocating civic humanism and refining the Tuscan vernacular to the same level as Latin. This publication represents the maturation of Renaissance civic philosophy and the elevation of vernacular languages in scholarly discourse.
1529 CE
First Siege of Vienna
Suleiman the Magnificent lays siege to Vienna but fails to take the city, marking the furthest extent of Ottoman expansion into Europe. This failure represented the first major check to Ottoman expansion and demonstrated the limits of their military reach into Central Europe.
1533 CE
Catherine de' Medici Marries Henry II
Fourteen-year-old Catherine de' Medici (1519-1589), born in Florence, marries Henry II of France in 1533. Though later famous for her role in the French Wars of Religion, she makes a direct contribution in bringing arts, sciences, and music (including the origins of ballet) to the French court from her native Florence.
1534 CE
Pope Paul III's Reign Begins
Pope Paul III comes to the papal throne (1534-1549) after the sack of Rome in 1527, with uncertainties prevalent in the Catholic Church following the Reformation. His papacy represents the Church's response to Renaissance and Reformation challenges, including patronage of Renaissance art and the Counter-Reformation.
1535 CE
Ottoman Conquest of Baghdad
Ottoman Turks take Baghdad from the Persians, establishing Ottoman rule in Iraq and gaining naval access to the Persian Gulf. This conquest extended Ottoman control over Mesopotamia and positioned the empire to challenge Portuguese dominance in the Indian Ocean trade routes.
1538 CE
Battle of Preveza
Ottoman admiral Barbarossa Hayreddin Pasha defeats the Holy League of Charles V under Andrea Doria at Preveza. This naval victory established Ottoman dominance in the Eastern Mediterranean and secured their control over key sea routes.
1543 CE
Copernicus Publishes Heliocentric Theory
Nicolaus Copernicus publishes 'De revolutionibus orbium coelestium' (On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres), positing that the Earth moves around the Sun. This work, dedicated to Pope Paul III, represents a fundamental challenge to traditional cosmology and marks a crucial development in the Scientific Revolution.
Vesalius Publishes Anatomical Work
Andreas Vesalius publishes 'De humani corporis fabrica' (On the Workings of the Human Body), giving new confidence to the role of dissection, observation, and the mechanistic view of anatomy. This work represents the Renaissance emphasis on direct observation and empirical study in medicine and natural science.
1544 CE
Königsberg Academy Founded
The Academy at Königsberg is founded in 1544, representing the expansion of higher education institutions during the Renaissance. This is one of three new academies established in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, along with Vilnius (1579) and Zamość (1594), contributing to the educational reforms of the period.
1546 CE
Farnese Hours Completed
Giulio Clovio completes the Farnese Hours in 1546, arguably the last major illuminated manuscript and a masterpiece that marks the end of the Italian Renaissance of illuminated manuscripts. This work represents the culmination of Renaissance manuscript art before the dominance of printed books.
1550 CE
Vasari's Lives of the Artists
Giorgio Vasari publishes 'Lives of the Artists' in 1550 (revised 1568), first using the term 'rinascita' (rebirth) in its broad sense. Vasari divides the Renaissance into three phases and establishes the framework for understanding Renaissance art history, making this work foundational to Renaissance historiography.
1566 CE
Death of Suleiman the Magnificent
Suleiman the Magnificent dies of natural causes during the siege of Szigetvár, ending the reign of the Ottoman Empire's most celebrated sultan. His death marked the end of the classical period of Ottoman expansion, with the empire spanning approximately three continents at its peak.
1571 CE
Battle of Lepanto
The Holy League consisting of Spanish and Venetian fleets wins a victory over the Ottoman fleet at Lepanto, off southwestern Greece. Catholic forces killed over 30,000 Turks and destroyed 200 ships, dealing a symbolic blow to Ottoman naval invincibility, though the empire quickly recovered.
1577 CE
Drake's Circumnavigation
Between 1577 and 1580, Drake's Raiding Expedition achieves the second circumnavigation of Earth, carried out in a single expedition. Drake becomes the first to complete a circumnavigation as captain while leading the expedition throughout the entire voyage, demonstrating English maritime capabilities during the Renaissance.
1579 CE
Vilnius Academy Founded
The Academy at Vilnius is founded in 1579, becoming one of the major institutions of higher education in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. This academy, along with others founded during this period, contributes to the educational and cultural development of the Renaissance in Eastern Europe.
1594 CE
Zamość Academy Founded
The Academy at Zamość is founded in 1594, completing the trio of new academies established in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth during the Renaissance. These institutions represent the expansion of higher education and the spread of Renaissance learning in Central and Eastern Europe.
1606 CE
Willem Janszoon Lands in Australia
In 1606, Dutch navigator Willem Janszoon sails from the East Indies in the Dutch East India Company ship Duyfken and lands in Australia. He charts about 300 km of the west coast of Cape York Peninsula in Queensland, representing the first known European landing on the Australian continent during the age of Renaissance exploration.
1639 CE
Treaty of Zuhab
The Treaty of Zuhab decisively divides the Caucasus and adjacent regions between the Ottoman and Safavid empires, confirming the territorial arrangements established in the 1555 Peace of Amasya. This treaty established lasting borders between the two empires in the region.
1642 CE
Abel Tasman Circumnavigates Australia
Between 1642 and 1643, Abel Tasman circumnavigates the Australian continent, proving that it was not joined to the imagined south polar continent. This voyage contributes to the Renaissance expansion of geographical knowledge and the mapping of previously unknown territories.
1648 CE
Joan Blaeu's World Map
Dutch cartographer Joan Blaeu creates the large world map 'Nova Totius Terrarum Orbis Tabula' in 1648 to commemorate the Peace of Westphalia. This map represents the culmination of Renaissance geographical knowledge, showing that every continent except Antarctica had been visited and mostly mapped by Europeans during the Renaissance period.
1650 CE
Dutch Complete Australian Coastal Mapping
By 1650, Dutch cartographers have mapped most of the coastline of the Australian continent, which they named New Holland, except the east coast. This achievement represents the culmination of Renaissance exploration and mapping efforts, demonstrating the extent of European geographical knowledge by the end of the Renaissance period.
1669 CE
Conquest of Crete Completed
The Ottomans complete their conquest of Crete from Venice, ending a long campaign that began decades earlier. This victory extended Ottoman control over the Eastern Mediterranean and eliminated a major Venetian stronghold in the region.
1683 CE
Second Siege of Vienna
Grand Vizier Kara Mustafa Pasha leads a massive Ottoman army in a second attempt to capture Vienna, but the siege fails catastrophically. The Ottoman forces are swept away by allied Habsburg, German, and Polish forces led by Polish king John III Sobieski, marking the beginning of Ottoman decline in Europe.
1697 CE
Battle of Zenta
Mustafa II leads a counterattack against the Habsburgs in Hungary but suffers a disastrous defeat at Zenta in modern Serbia. This crushing defeat further weakened Ottoman position in Europe and contributed to major territorial losses in subsequent peace negotiations.
1699 CE
Treaty of Karlowitz
The Treaty of Karlowitz ends the Great Turkish War, with the Ottomans surrendering control of significant territories, many permanently. This treaty marked the first major territorial losses for the Ottoman Empire and signaled the beginning of its long retreat from Europe.
1711 CE
Pruth River Campaign Victory
Ottoman forces achieve victory in the Pruth River Campaign against Russia in Moldavia, after Charles XII of Sweden persuaded Sultan Ahmed III to declare war on Russia. This victory temporarily restored Ottoman prestige after earlier defeats.
1717 CE
Austrian Capture of Belgrade
Austrian troops led by Prince Eugene of Savoy capture Belgrade from the Ottomans. Austrian control in Serbia lasted until the Turkish victory in the Austro-Russian–Turkish War, but this loss demonstrated continued Ottoman military weakness in Europe.
1729 CE
First Ottoman Printing Press
Ibrahim Muteferrika's printing press publishes its first book, marking the beginning of Ottoman printing. Despite initial religious opposition, this technological advancement represented an important step in Ottoman modernization and the spread of knowledge.
1739 CE
Treaty of Belgrade
The Treaty of Belgrade ends the Austro-Russian–Turkish War, resulting in Ottoman recovery of northern Bosnia, Habsburg Serbia (including Belgrade), Oltenia and southern parts of the Banat of Temeswar. However, the empire lost the port of Azov to the Russians.
1774 CE
Treaty of Küçük Kaynarca
The Treaty of Küçük Kaynarca ends the Russo-Turkish War of 1768–1774, providing freedom of worship for Christian citizens in Ottoman-controlled Wallachia and Moldavia. This treaty marked a significant Russian victory and increased Russian influence in Ottoman territories.
1804 CE
Serbian Revolution Begins
The Serbian revolution begins, marking the start of an era of national awakening in the Balkans during the Eastern Question. This uprising represented the first successful national liberation movement against Ottoman rule and inspired other Balkan peoples.
1821 CE
Greek War of Independence Begins
The Greeks declare war on the Sultan, beginning the Greek War of Independence. A rebellion that originated in Moldavia was followed by the main revolution in the Peloponnese, which became the first part of the Ottoman Empire to achieve independence in 1829.
1826 CE
Destruction of Janissary Corps
Sultan Mahmud II eliminates the Janissary corps in the Auspicious Incident, crushing their revolt and disbanding the powerful military organization. This dramatic reform removed a major obstacle to modernization and allowed for the creation of a modern Ottoman army.
1827 CE
Battle of Navarino
Muhammad Ali of Egypt loses his fleet at the Battle of Navarino during the Greek War of Independence. This naval defeat was costly for Muhammad Ali and contributed to the eventual Greek independence, while also weakening Ottoman naval power in the Mediterranean.
1830 CE
Greek Independence Achieved
Greece achieves formal independence from the Ottoman Empire, becoming the first Ottoman territory to successfully break away through nationalist revolution. This independence inspired other Balkan peoples and marked the beginning of the empire's territorial disintegration in Europe.
French Invasion of Algeria
The French invade the Deylik of Algiers, beginning the French conquest of Algeria. The campaign took 21 days and resulted in over 5,000 Algerian military casualties and about 2,600 French ones, marking the beginning of French colonial rule in North Africa.
1831 CE
First Egyptian-Ottoman War Begins
Muhammad Ali of Egypt revolts against Sultan Mahmud II, beginning the first Egyptian-Ottoman War. The French-trained Egyptian army under Ibrahim Pasha defeats Ottoman forces and advances deep into Anatolia, reaching within 320 km of Constantinople.
1833 CE
Convention of Kütahya
The Convention of Kütahya ends the first Egyptian-Ottoman War, with Muhammad Ali agreeing to abandon his campaign against the Sultan in exchange for governorship of several provinces including Crete, Aleppo, Tripoli, Damascus and Sidon, effectively gaining control of modern Syria and Lebanon.
1839 CE
Tanzimat Edict Issued
The Edict of Gülhane launches the Tanzimat period of Ottoman reforms, introducing constitutional changes that led to a modern conscripted army, banking system reforms, decriminalization of homosexuality, replacement of religious law with secular law, and modernization of various institutions.
1840 CE
Ottoman Ministry of Post Established
The Ottoman Ministry of Post is established in Istanbul, marking an important step in modernizing Ottoman communications and administration. This development was part of the broader Tanzimat reforms aimed at modernizing the empire's infrastructure.
1847 CE
Ottoman Telegraph Patent
American inventor Samuel Morse receives an Ottoman patent for the telegraph, issued by Sultan Abdülmecid who personally tested the invention. This technological adoption represented Ottoman efforts to modernize communications infrastructure during the Tanzimat period.
1853 CE
Crimean War Begins
The Crimean War begins as part of a long-running contest between major European powers for influence over territories of the declining Ottoman Empire. The financial burden of the war forces the Ottoman state to issue foreign loans amounting to 5 million pounds sterling.
1876 CE
Ottoman Constitution Proclaimed
The Ottoman Constitution, called the Kanûn-u Esâsî, is proclaimed, establishing the empire's First Constitutional Era. However, this constitutional period was short-lived, with the parliament surviving for only two years before the sultan suspended it.
1878 CE
Russo-Turkish War Ends
The Russo-Turkish War of 1877–1878 ends with a decisive victory for Russia. As a result, Ottoman holdings in Europe decline sharply: Bulgaria becomes an independent principality, Romania achieves full independence, and Serbia and Montenegro gain complete independence.
Austria-Hungary Occupies Bosnia-Herzegovina
Austria-Hungary unilaterally occupies the Ottoman provinces of Bosnia-Herzegovina and Novi Pazar, further reducing Ottoman territory in Europe. This occupation was formalized at the Congress of Berlin and represented another major territorial loss for the empire.
1882 CE
British Occupation of Egypt
Britain sends troops to Egypt to put down the Urabi Revolt, effectively gaining control of the territory. Sultan Abdul Hamid II was too paranoid to mobilize his own army, fearing it would result in a coup d'état, allowing British control to be established.
1894 CE
Hamidian Massacres Begin
Between 100,000 and 300,000 Armenians living throughout the empire are killed in what becomes known as the Hamidian massacres. These systematic killings represent a dark period in Ottoman history and foreshadow the later Armenian genocide during World War I.
1908 CE
Young Turk Revolution
The Young Turk Revolution led by the Committee of Union and Progress reestablishes constitutional monarchy in the Ottoman Empire. This revolution restored the Constitution and brought in multi-party politics, offering hope for modernization and reform of the empire's institutions.
Austria-Hungary Annexes Bosnia-Herzegovina
Austria-Hungary officially annexes Bosnia and Herzegovina, taking advantage of the civil strife following the Young Turk Revolution. This annexation further reduced Ottoman territory and increased tensions in the Balkans leading up to World War I.
1911 CE
Italo-Turkish War
The Ottoman Empire loses its North African territories and the Dodecanese to Italy in the Italo-Turkish War. Despite military reforms that reconstituted the Ottoman Modern Army, the empire could not prevent this territorial loss to Italian colonial expansion.
1912 CE
First Balkan War
The Ottoman Empire loses almost all of its European territories in the First Balkan War, retaining only East Thrace (European Turkey). This devastating defeat resulted in around 400,000 Muslims fleeing with the retreating Ottoman armies, with many dying from cholera.
1913 CE
CUP Coup d'État
The Committee of Union and Progress leads a coup d'état that establishes a dictatorship in the Ottoman Empire. Following the disastrous Balkan Wars, the CUP became increasingly radicalized and nationalistic, abandoning constitutional government for authoritarian rule.
1914 CE
Ottoman Entry into World War I
The Ottoman Empire enters World War I on the side of the Central Powers with a combined German-Ottoman surprise attack on the Black Sea coast of the Russian Empire. This decision would prove catastrophic for the empire, leading to its eventual dissolution.
1915 CE
Armenian Genocide Begins
The Ottoman government and Kurdish tribes begin the systematic extermination of the ethnic Armenian population, resulting in the deaths of up to 1.5 million Armenians. The genocide was implemented through wholesale killing of men and deportation of women, children, and elderly on death marches to the Syrian desert.
1916 CE
Arab Revolt Begins
The Arab Revolt begins with British support, officially initiated at Mecca. Based on the McMahon–Hussein Correspondence, the revolt aimed to create a single unified Arab state stretching from Aleppo to Aden, turning the tide against the Ottomans in the Middle East.
1918 CE
Armistice of Mudros
The defeated Ottoman Empire signs the Armistice of Mudros, effectively ending Ottoman participation in World War I. This armistice led to the occupation of Istanbul by combined British, French, Italian, and Greek forces and set the stage for the empire's partition.
1919 CE
Greek Occupation of Smyrna
Greece takes control of the area around Smyrna (now İzmir) as part of the post-war occupation of Ottoman territories. This occupation was part of the broader Allied partition of the Ottoman Empire and contributed to the rise of Turkish nationalist resistance.
1920 CE
Treaty of Sèvres
The partition of the Ottoman Empire is finalized under the terms of the Treaty of Sèvres. This treaty, designed in the Conference of London, allowed the Sultan to retain his position and title but severely reduced Ottoman territory and sovereignty.
1922 CE
Abolition of the Sultanate
The Ottoman sultanate is abolished by the Turkish nationalist movement led by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. This marked the end of over 600 years of Ottoman rule and paved the way for the establishment of the Republic of Turkey.
Last Sultan Leaves Turkey
Mehmed VI, the last Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, leaves the country after the abolition of the Ottoman sultanate. His departure marked the definitive end of the Ottoman dynasty's rule and the complete transition to the new Turkish republic.
1923 CE
Republic of Turkey Established
The Republic of Turkey is established in the new capital city of Ankara, replacing the Ottoman Empire. This marked the complete transformation from a multi-ethnic empire to a modern nation-state under the leadership of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.
1924 CE
Abolition of the Caliphate
The caliphate is abolished, ending the Ottoman claim to leadership of the Muslim world. This final act completed the dismantling of Ottoman institutions and marked the definitive end of the Ottoman Empire's religious and political authority.