The fall of the Ottoman Empire occurred due to a complex set of events, including military defeats in World War I, nationalist movements within its territories, and economic difficulties. The empire's participation in the war on the side of the Central Powers led to significant territorial losses. Ethnic groups like Armenians, Arabs, and Kurds increasingly sought independence, challenging Ottoman rule. The empire officially dissolved following the Turkish War of Independence, culminating in the establishment of the Republic of Turkey in 1923. This transition reshaped Middle Eastern geopolitics and laid the foundations for modern nation-states in the region.