The Ottoman Empire started from a small principality and turned into a huge empire in a short time. Many people are the reasons why the Ottoman Empire grew in a short time? He is curiously researching the question. There are many reasons underlying this rapid growth.
- Military superiority
- Political stability
- Religious tolerance
- Geography
- Domestic and foreign policy strategies
It is among the reasons for Ottoman growth.
The Ottoman army was one of the most advanced armies of its age. An effective military organization such as the Janissary system and disciplined soldiers provided a significant advantage in wars. In addition, the Ottomans constantly strengthened their armies with the booty they obtained during the conquests.
The Ottoman Empire had a strong central administration and an effective bureaucracy. Ottoman sultans were generally charismatic leaders and worked for the survival of the state. This political stability was of great importance for the continuity of conquests and the administration of new lands.
The Ottomans were tolerant of people belonging to different religions and sects in the lands they conquered. The Ottoman policy of tolerance prevented the people in the newly conquered lands from rebelling and ensured the stability of the state.
Reasons for the Growth of the Ottoman Empire
The reasons for the growth of the Ottoman Empire include various factors such as a strong management approach, strategic military successes and geographical advantages. The administrative policies implemented by the state during the rise period were effective not only in the conquered lands but also in gaining the loyalty of the Ottoman people. After the conquest, the Ottomans adopted a policy of tolerance that respected the beliefs and cultures of the local people. In this way, the peoples under Ottoman rule more easily ensured their loyalty to the state and facilitated the goal of expanding the borders of the Ottoman Empire.
The conquests of the Ottoman Empire in Anatolia and the Balkans during the founding period
The founding period of the Ottoman Empire includes the first steps of its transformation from a small principality to a great empire. 13. Towards the end of the century, the Ottoman Principality, which was established under the leadership of Osman Bey, emerged as a small fringe principality located in the northwest of Anatolia, on the Byzantine border.
The Ottoman Principality, which was established at a time when the Byzantine Empire was weakening, quickly strengthened due to its strategic location and began to conquer the surrounding lands in a short time.
In the conquests in Anatolia, the Ottomans primarily turned to the west by establishing friendly relations with other Turkish principalities in the region. During the reign of Osman Bey, settlements such as Karacahisar, Bilecik and İnegöl, which belonged to Byzantium, were captured; these conquests enabled the Ottomans to gain military power and become an effective principality in the region.
After expanding their influence in Anatolia, the Ottomans continued their conquest policies against Byzantium, and important cities such as Iznik and Bursa were annexed to the Ottoman lands during the reign of Orhan Bey. The conquest of Bursa was a great turning point for the Ottoman Empire, it was made the capital and the foundations of the empire were laid here. During the founding period, the Ottoman Empire expanded its borders by making conquests not only in Anatolia but also in the Balkans.
The Balkan conquests, which gained momentum during the reign of Orhan Bey and especially Murad I, strengthened the position of the Ottomans in the region. With the capture of Çimpe Castle, which facilitated the transition to Rumelia, the Ottomans gained a permanent place in the Balkans. Under the rule of Murad I, the Ottomans strengthened their dominance in the Balkans with victories such as the Serbian War and the First Kosovo War.
