The historical impact of the fall of Constantinople in 1453 was profound, marking the end of the Byzantine Empire and a significant shift in global power dynamics. Captured by the Ottoman Turks led by Mehmed II, this event signaled the rise of the Ottoman Empire as a major political and cultural force. The fall facilitated the spread of Islam in Eastern Europe and prompted the West to seek new trade routes, contributing to the Age of Exploration. Additionally, the event served as a catalyst for the Renaissance in Western Europe, as scholars fled to the West, bringing classical knowledge that had been preserved in Constantinople.