How did the Turks come to topple the Byzantine Empire?

The Turks toppled the Byzantine Empire when they defeated Byzantine forces in Constantinople in 1453. The Ottoman Empire forces or the Ottomans were led by Sultan Mehmed II. The defeat of the Byzantines in Constantinople followed a 7 week siege of the city and led to a massive blow to Christendom because the Ottomans continued to advance into Europe in establishing their massive empire.

Answered by Gibbs | 2024-06-10

The fall of the Byzantine Empire to the Turks culminated in 1453 when Constantinople was conquered by Mehmed II of the Ottoman Empire. This followed a prolonged period of decline for the Byzantines, challenged by a series of military defeats, shrinking territory, and internal strife.
Notably, the Battle of Manzikert in 1071 dealt a severe blow to the Byzantine military and allowed the Seljuq Turks to capture much of Anatolia. The loss of these lands weakened the Byzantines further, leading to a decrease in military and economic power, and increasing vulnerability to Turkic incursions. Over time, the Ottomans, one of the Turkic tribes, gained dominance in the region, persistently chipping away at the remaining Byzantine territories.
The final siege of Constantinople by Mehmed II included a significant deployment of artillery, including a massive cannon designed by a Hungarian gunsmith named Urban. The conquest led to the transformation of the magnificent Hagia Sophia from a cathedral into a mosque, marking the definitive end of the long-standing Byzantine Empire.
This event triggered an exodus of Greek intellectuals to Italy, directly contributing to the Renaissance. However, prior to the final fall, Byzantium's slow decline allowed other cultures such as the Serbian and Bulgarian empires to experience a cultural synthesis that melded Greek and Slavic elements.

Answered by DanielDayLewis | 2024-06-24

The Byzantine Empire was toppled by the Ottoman Turks in 1453 when they conquered Constantinople, led by Sultan Mehmed II. This event marked the end of Byzantine rule and significantly changed the balance of power in Europe. The Ottomans' victory paved the way for their expansion throughout Europe and altered trade routes.
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Answered by Gibbs | 2024-10-02