Byzantine Empire fall

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Collapse of the Byzantine Empire

By the time of the Great Schism, the empire was already in decline. Struggles over succession, court intrigues, and constant wars undermined its strength. Venetian merchants had taken control over Byzantine trade, draining the wealth of the empire. Ottoman forces surrounded the city of Constantinople with cannons to attack the city's walls. After a siege lasting two months, the turks stormed Constantinople's broken walls. Forces led by Ottoman ruler Mehmet II entered the city in triumph. The city was remained Istanbul and became the capital of the Ottoman Empire. The Hagia Sophia was then turned into an Islamic house of worship, and Istanbul soon emerged as a great center of Muslim culture.

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