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The Map Archive offers a rich array of Ottoman Empire maps. The Ottomans were a Turkish nomadic tribe, who were driven off the steppes of Central Asia by the Mongols, and converted to Islam. The Ottoman dynasty, named after Osman Gazi (1259–1326) emerged from a small emirate established in northwestern Anatolia after 1071. In the 13th century, the Ottomans began to expand their kingdom westwards into the Byzantine Empire, establishing their capital in Bursa in 1326, and finally capturing the Byzantine capital of Constantinople, which they renamed Istanbul, in 1453. The Ottomans went on to extend their empire into the Middle East and Southeast Europe. Their advance was relentless; they were finally turned back from Europe following their unsuccessful siege of Vienna in 1683. The Ottoman Empire was beset by dynastic struggles and succession disputes, as various candidates vied for imperial supremacy. At the height of the Ottoman Empire, the Turks had highly effective administrative and governmental systems and were tolerant towards their diverse subjects. Ultimately, however, the Empire stagnated and declined and, following its disastrous alliance with Germany in World War I, it finally collapsed in 1922.
The Map Archive’s Ottoman Empire collection tells the story, in maps, of the Ottoman Empire, founded in the 13th century by Osman. Originating in Anatolia, it expanded rapidly, conquering Constantinople in 1453 under Mehmed II, and reached its zenith under Suleiman the Magnificent in the 16th century, encompassing territories across three continents, from southeastern Europe to the Middle East and North Africa. However, by the 19th century, the empire began to decline, facing challenges from European powers and nationalist movements within its territories, and collapsed following its defeat in World War I.
The Map Archive’s Ottoman Empire collection maps represent several main periods that mark its evolution and expansion: its rise from the 13th century; the conquest of Constantinople in 1453 under Mehmed II and the “Golden Age” of the empire; “Transformation Period,” of the 17th and 18th centuries; decline and decentralization in the 19th century; the “Late Period” in the early 20th century, marked by internal instability and ultimately collapse.
The Map Archive’s Ottoman Empire collection show that the Empire encompassed a vast array of regions and cities: Istanbul, formerly Constantinople, served as the imperial capital, while Anatolian cities like Bursa and Edirne played pivotal roles in Ottoman history. Other distinct regions include the Balkans, the cities of the Middle East, like Damascus and Baghdad, and North Africa, which included important centres such as Cairo, Tunis, and Tripoli.
Many of the maps in the Map Archive’s collection depict specific historic events (founding of cities, rebellions, discoveries, plagues, construction) as well as specific battles and the wider conflicts that have shaped world history.
If you want to reproduce the Map Archive’s maps in printed works that will be sold for commercial publication or used as an online resource, you need to clear the copyright with us and pay a copyright fee. There is no fee if the maps are used to illustrate essays, theses or term papers, or for classroom teaching purposes.
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