The Ottoman Empire controlled Constantinople before it fell in 1453. The empire, which spanned three continents at its height, was a significant political, cultural, and economic power in the region. Under the leadership of Sultan Mehmed II, the Ottomans besieged Constantinople, marking the end of the Byzantine Empire and the rise of Ottoman dominance in southeastern Europe. The capture of the city was a pivotal event in history, as it not only established an Islamic empire that lasted for centuries but also reshaped trade routes and cultural interactions between Europe and Asia.