The Ottoman Empire was once one of the world's largest military and economic powers. So what happened?

The fall of the Ottoman Empire was a complex process that took place over several centuries, culminating in its dissolution at the end of World War I. Several pivotal factors contributed to its decline:

1. Military Decline : As European nations innovated in military technology and tactics, the Ottoman Empire struggled to keep up. The empire faced significant defeats, such as the Battle of Lepanto in 1571 against the Holy League, and later, at the gates of Vienna in 1683, which signaled the end of Ottoman expansion into Europe.

2. Administrative Issues : The Ottoman administrative system struggled with corruption and inefficiency. The empire's reliance on the devshirme system, where Christian boys were conscripted and converted to Islam for military and bureaucratic service, as well as the feudal-like Timar system, began to falter. Regional officials, or beys, started to assert more autonomy, weakening centralized control.

3. Economic Factors : European maritime powers began to dominate trade routes that the Ottomans had previously controlled. The discovery of the Americas and new sea routes to Asia by the Europeans shifted the focal point of trade away from the Ottoman-controlled Silk Road.

4. Territorial Losses : Repeated wars and territorial losses gradually shrank the empire. This includes the loss of territories due to the rise of nationalist movements in the 19th and early 20th centuries, leading to independence for various nations that had been under Ottoman control.

5. Internal Revolts : Various ethnic groups and provinces within the empire began to seek independence, leading to internal strife and weakening the empire's cohesion and resources.

6. World War I : The Ottoman Empire's decision to align with the Central Powers during World War I proved disastrous. The empire suffered significant human and territorial losses during the war. Following its defeat, the victorious Allied Powers partitioned its remaining territory.

7. Rise of Nationalism : Under the leadership of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, a nationalistic movement emerged that was opposed to the old Ottoman order. After a series of wars and negotiations, the Republic of Turkey was founded in 1923, which officially marked the end of the Ottoman Empire.