Overview

Overview

The Ottoman Empire began about 1300. It became the most powerful empire in the world during the 1500's and 1600's. At its height, it controlled what is now Turkey and parts of northern Africa, southwestern Asia, and southeastern Europe.

During the three centuries after the period of its greatest extent and power, the Ottoman Empire was in slow decline. During World War I, the empireís forces supported Germany. After the war ended in 1918, troops of several Allied nations, including Britain and Greece, occupied the Ottoman Empire. A Turkish military hero named Mustafa Kemal (later called Kemal Ataturk) led a nationalist movement that ended the occupation of Turkey in 1922. The Turkish government abolished the Ottoman Empire that year and created the Republic of Turkey in 1923.

Excerpt adapted from the "Ottoman Empire" article, The World Book Encyclopedia, © 1999