The Ottoman Empire played a significant role in World War I by entering the conflict on the side of the Central Powers, which included Germany and Austria-Hungary. The Ottomans aimed to regain lost territories and enhance their influence in the Middle East and Europe. Significant battles occurred on multiple fronts, including the Gallipoli Campaign, which aimed to secure a sea route to Russia. The war exposed the empire's internal divisions and weakened its control, leading to its eventual disintegration and the emergence of modern nation-states in its former territories.