The result of the fall of Constantinople in 1453 was the end of the Byzantine Empire and the rise of the Ottoman Empire as a dominant power in southeastern Europe. The fall signified a major shift in the balance of power, with the Ottomans expanding their territory into Europe and controlling key trade routes, which affected European economies and relations. The event also marked the end of an era of Christian Byzantine rule and prompted a new cultural and religious landscape in the region. Furthermore, the fall inspired the Renaissance in Europe as scholars fled to the West, bringing classical knowledge and texts.