A chronology of key events:
Ottoman Empire
1453 – Sultan Mehmed II captures Constantinople, ending the Byzantine Empire and consolidating Ottoman Empire in Asia Minor and Balkans.
15th-16th centuries – Expansion into Asia and Africa.
1683 – Ottoman advance into Europe halted at Battle of Vienna. Long decline begins.
19th century – Efforts at political and economic modernisation of Empire largely founder.
1908 – Young Turk Revolution establishes constitutional rule, but degenerates into military dictatorship during First World War, where Ottoman Empire fights in alliance with Germany and Austria-Hungary.
1918-22 – Partition of defeated Ottoman Empire leads to eventual triumph of Turkish National Movement in war of independence against foreign occupation and rule of Sultan.
Modern Turkey
1923 – Grand National Assembly declares Turkey a republic and Kemal Ataturk president.
1928 – Turkey becomes secular: clause retaining Islam as state religion removed from constitution.
1938 – President Ataturk dies, succeeded by Ismet Inonu.
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