World Events in 1470 - The Ottoman Empire
In 1444, Sultan Murad II abdicated and left his throne to his son, Muhammad II, known as Muhammad the Conqueror. One fact concerning his reign should be remembered, a fact so important that even Florence would feel the repercussions: on May 29, 1453, Muhammad conquered Constantinople and destroyed Byzantine power forever. In so doing, he completely upset the interaction of Middle Eastern values and alliances. Muhammad II established his capital in Constantinople, and immediately abandoned Edirne (Adrianople), where his father, as we saw last time, had established a grand, brilliant and beautiful court; Muhammad II continued his work in his new capital of Constantinople.
