The Ottoman Sultans

Lesson Plan - Get It!

Audio:

The man in the picture was named Mehmet II.

He was one of the most important sultans of the Ottoman Empire. The word sultan means emperor or king.

While there were 36 Ottoman sultans in all, Mehmet II is revered as Fatih, or conqueror of Constantinople. It was under his leadership that the Ottoman Turks claimed the city in 1453 and ended the Eastern Roman Empire.

Find the city of Constantinople on the map below. You can see how the Ottoman Empire spread over time.

Explore the resources listed below to learn more about the Ottoman Empire.

• Ottoman Empire
• Early Islamic World: Biography | Suleiman the Magnificent
• Culture of the Ottoman Empire
• Fall of the Ottoman Empire

As you read, write down answers to the following questions.

• Why were the Ottomans called the Ottomans?
• Who was Suleiman I and what were his great accomplishments?
• What was life like under the Ottomans?
• When did the empire end?

Then, think about these questions.

• Where is the city of Istanbul, the former Constantinople? Can you find it on the map?
• What do you think was the lifestyle of a Sultan or other emperor living centuries ago?
• What do you imagine their homes looked like? What were their daily activities?

The modern capital of Turkey is Ankara, but for all the centuries of Ottoman rule, Constantinople was the capital of the empire. The city was later renamed Istanbul.

In the Got It? section, learn more about the beautiful home of the Ottoman sultans in Istanbul, the amazing Topkapi Palace.