Ottoman Empire

The Ottoman Empire was a Muslim theocracy which ruled much of the Middle East from 1299 A.D. until 1922 A.D..

The Ottomans are perhaps most notable for their overthrow of the Byzantine Empire in 1453, by capturing the Christian city of Constantinople. After capturing the city, the Ottomans changed the Hagia Sofia from a Church into a Mosque. This is commonly considered the end of the Roman Empire, as the Byzantine Empire was a continuation of the Roman Empire.