may 1, 1453 - Fall of the Byzantine empire
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After ten centuries of wars, the Ottomans took over Constantinople in 1453. This event was marked as the end of European middle ages
By the mid-fifteenth century, the Byzantine Empire had long been in decline, but it remained important for Christian Europe.
Constantinople had enormous prestige, both as a center of the rival Christian faith and a symbol of imperial power. The Ottoman empire had gained new land and only needed to conquer Constantinople. Mehmed II, leader of the Ottomans from 1451, wanted to take over Constantinople with an ambitious plan
Constantinople´s fortifications had held out through numerous sieges in the past so it was hard to attack the city. There were 8,000 men protecting the city. The Ottomans outnumbered them with f between 75,000 and 100,000 soldiers and a large fleet. Initial attacks on the city’s ancient but formidable walls failed with heavy casualties, but after attempts to negotiate a surrender came to nothing. The attacks began again, with increasing frequency and ferocity.
the Ottomans killed the emperor as he attempted a counterattack with his remaining defenders. The fall of Constantinople was a huge blow for the Christian world but, although Pope Nicholas V called for a crusade to regain the city for Christendom.
Added to timeline:
AP World History. Period 3 Timeline. Joaquin Alcoreza, Mateo Vallejo
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