[Video] Today in History- The Fall of Constantinople

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Today in History:
The Fall of Constantinople:
The End of an Empire
5.29.1453

Today in history, on May 29, 1453, one of the most significant events in world history took place—the fall of Constantinople to the Ottoman Empire. This moment not only marked the end of the Byzantine Empire, which had endured for over a thousand years, but also signaled the close of the medieval era and the rise of a new world order.

For centuries, Constantinople stood as the political and cultural heart of Eastern Christendom, a fortress city famed for its massive defensive walls and strategic position linking Europe and Asia. But by the 15th century, the empire had dwindled to little more than the city itself, surrounded by growing Ottoman power.

Sultan Mehmed II, just 21 years old, led the massive Ottoman assault. With an army estimated at over 80,000 and advanced artillery—including the massive bombard designed by Hungarian engineer Orban—the Ottomans laid siege to Constantinople for nearly two months. The Byzantine defenders, led by Emperor Constantine XI, were vastly outnumbered, with only around 7,000 troops and little outside support.

Despite fierce resistance, the Ottomans breached the walls in the early hours of May 29. Constantine XI fought and died with his soldiers, refusing to abandon the city. By the end of the day, the city had fallen, marking the official end of the Byzantine Empire.

Mehmed II entered the city as a conqueror but preserved much of its structure, renaming it Istanbul and making it the new capital of the Ottoman Empire. The Hagia Sophia, once the grandest church in Christendom, was converted into a mosque, symbolizing a profound shift in religious and political power.

The fall of Constantinople reshaped global trade, spurred European exploration, and remains a defining moment that bridged the medieval and modern worlds.