The Byzantine and Ottoman Empires in 1450

Ottoman Empire – The Fall of Constantinople, 1453

In this course, Professor Jonathan Harris (Royal Holloway, London) explores the capture of Byzantium by the Ottomans in late May 1453. We begin by thinking of the decline of the Byzantine Empire, and the growth of the Ottoman Empire, in the centuries leading up to 1450. After, we think about the defensive situation of the city of Constantinople, before turning in the third module to the accession of Sultan Mehmed II and the preparations he made in order to conquer the city – including his investment in Ottoman naval power and military technology. In the fourth and fifth modules, we trace the progression of the siege itself, ending with the final capture of the city on the morning of 29 May 1453, before exploring the short-, medium- and long-term consequences of the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople in the final module.

The Byzantine and Ottoman Empires in 1450

In this module, we trace the decline of the Byzantine Empire, and the growth of the Ottoman Empire, in the centuries leading up to 1450.