Siege of Constantinople (1453)

On 29 May 1453, Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II's forces breached the ancient walls of Constantinople after a 53-day siege, ending the Byzantine Empire — the last remnant of Rome — after 1,100 years. The fall triggered a mass exodus of Greek scholars to Italy, carrying classical manuscripts that fuelled the Renaissance. It severed the Silk Road trade route to Asia, forcing European powers to search for alternative paths and directly motivating Columbus's 1492 voyage. The Ottoman Empire now controlled the bridge between Europe and Asia, reshaping global power for the next four centuries.