How Much Do You Know About the Ottoman Empire?

The seat of the Ottoman Empire became modern-day Turkey. The city of Constantinople became Istanbul, which straddles Europe and Asia.

At its height, the Ottoman Empire stretched from central Europe to Northern Africa to the Arabian peninsula. It encompassed an area that today contains Hungary, Greece, Ukraine, Turkey, Israel, Egypt and Algeria.

The Ottoman Empire conquered much of Europe by allowing local rulers to stay in place and power as long as they accepted Ottoman rule. The Ottomans had a policy of allowing those they conquered to retain their customs and way of life, as long as rulers paid annual tributes and met several other stipulations.

Sultans kept large harems of women. Any son fathered by the Sultan among them could potentially be Sultan.

The Ottoman Empire was founded in about 1300 AD. It was founded by a nomadic Turkmen chief named Osman, which is where the word Ottoman comes from.

The Ottoman Empire began in about 1300 and reigned for more than 600 years before falling in 1922. It was replaced by the Turkish Republic and other states in Southeast Europe and the Middle East.

The Ottoman Empire had deep Muslim roots. In its early stages the Ottomans were leaders of the Turkish warriors for the faith of Islam, who fought against the failing Byzantine Empire.

The Ottoman Empire practiced religious tolerance. They allowed those they ruled to keep their individual customs for the most part.

Oil wrestling was the most popular sport of the Ottoman Empire. Schools were set up for it which doubled as spiritual centers.

Constantinople was initially the capital of the powerful Byzantine Empire. This city was captured by the Ottomans and its name changed by them to Istanbul.

A total of 36 Sultans ruled the Ottoman Empire over its 600-year existence. The first Sultan was Osman I in 1299 and the last Sultan was Mehmed VI in 1922.

When the Ottomans captured Constantinople from the Byzantines, many artists and intellectuals fled to Italy. This sparked the Renaissance.

The Ottoman Empire reached its peak in the 16th century. This occurred during the reign of Suleiman the Magnificent, who ruled from 1520-1566.

Istanbul was a hub of artistic, intellectual, and scientific advancement in the Muslim World. This was especially true at the peak of the empire during the 16th century.

In 1683, combined Central European powers came together to defend Vienna after the Ottoman Empire seized the city. The Ottomans lost and this battle is considered a turning point; the beginning of the end of the Ottoman Empire.

The Ottoman Empire was involved in World War I. Their empire dissolved shortly after that war, as it took a massive toll on their crumbling empire.

World War I was fought between the Allies and the Central Powers. The Central Powers included the Ottoman Empire, Germany, Austria-Hungary and Bulgaria.

The Sultans of the Ottoman Empire all lived in the Topkapi palace complex in Istanbul. It contained dozens of garden and buildings.

While many empires killed and oppressed those they conquered, the Ottomans absorbed the best of those they overtook and allowed thought, learning and discovery to flourish. They made many strides in science and technology.

France was never part of the Ottoman Empire. In Europe, their empire never spread farther west than Vienna.

The arts and sciences flourished in the Muslim World during the Dark Ages of Europe. Architecture, carpet weaving, painting, poetry and more were explored.

The Sultan's harem had a whole part of the palace to itself. All of his wives, female slaves and concubines were a part of it.

The Ottoman Empire encouraged study in science and art across their vast territory. Many advancements were made in the sciences.

Medicine was one area which was deeply studied by the Ottomans. They made many innovations in surgical instruments.

When a new Sultan came in power, he would have his brothers killed so they could not take the throne from him. Over time, this evolved to the royal brothers just being imprisoned.

The Sultan was always concerned about being assassinated. In order to avoid it, he slept in a different room every night.

The Spanish Empire was notoriously intolerant, with their centuries of inquisitions. The Ottomans took a different approach, allowing diverse people to practice their customs as long as they paid a tax.

In the 14th century, the devshirme system was created by the Ottomans. Christians had to give up 20% of their male children to the state so they could be converted and raised in Muslim society.

A number of factors led to the collapse of the Ottoman Empire. In the century before they fell, they lost almost all of the territories in Europe.

The Ottoman Empire fought on the side of the Central Powers. After World War I, according to a treaty agreement, Britain, France, Greece and Russia divided their territories.

Mehmed VI was the last Ottoman Sultan. He was forced to abdicate and into exile in 1922.

In 1915, Turkish leaders massacred over 1 million Armenians living within the Ottoman Empire. To this day, the Turkish government denies it and it's illegal to talk about the Armenian Genocide in Turkey.

At their peak, Ottoman rule spread throughout Asia, Europe and Africa. Their nearly 20 million square mile empire had more than 35 million subjects.

The official language of the empire was Turkic. However, dozens of languages were spoken throughout the vast empire.