Fall of Constantinople
The Ottoman Empire captured Constantinople, ending the Byzantine Empire and marking a turning point between the medieval and modern eras.
On May 29, 1453, Sultan Mehmed II of the Ottoman Empire captured Constantinople after a 53-day siege. The fall of the city, which had been the capital of the Byzantine (Eastern Roman) Empire for over a thousand years, sent shockwaves through Christendom. The event is often cited as marking the end of the Middle Ages. Many Greek scholars fled westward, bringing classical texts that helped fuel the Renaissance. The Ottomans renamed the city Istanbul and made it the capital of their empire.
More in War & Conflict
Fall of Troy
The legendary city of Troy fell after a prolonged siege by Greek forces, as recounted in Homer's Iliad.
480 BCEBattle of Thermopylae
A small Greek force led by King Leonidas of Sparta held the pass at Thermopylae against the massive Persian army.
October 1, 331 BCEAlexander the Great Conquers Persian Empire
Alexander the Great defeated the Persian Empire at the Battle of Gaugamela, creating one of the largest empires in ancient history.
April 9, 1865American Civil War Ends
General Robert E. Lee surrendered to Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Court House, effectively ending the American Civil War.