2024-2025
EUROPEAN ECONOMIC HISTORY
MODULE 4: FROM THE ‘EARLY MODERN TIMES’ TO THE
‘INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION’
KH
, Early modern times:
~ 1450 AD – 18th Century
The fall of the Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantine Empire): 1453 AD
The Conquest of Constantinople:
The Eastern Roman Empire had lost most of its territories. By mid-15th century to the Ottoman
Empire, only the city and a few outlying territories remained. When sultan Mehmed II ascended
the throne in 1451, he started preparing for the Conquest of Constantinople by significantly
increasing the size of its army and using new technologies.
(80.000 – 120.000 soldiers compared to the mere 7.000 from the Eastern Roman Empire)
The siege:
The siege on Constantinople started April 6th and lasted until May 29th, 1453 AD. The reason
Constantinople stood this long can be linked to its city walls nicknamed “Theodosian Walls”.
Unfortunately, the Ottomans had access to heavy cannonry which enabled them to breach the
walls eventually. On May 29th Emperor Constantine XI was killed fighting alongside his soldiers.
Initially after the victory the soldiers looted the city, but Sultan Mehmed II quickly called for order.
He subsequently entered the Hagia Sophia (church at the time) and converted it into a mosque.
Consequences:
Constantinople received the name “Istanbul” in 1453 AD but kept the name Constantinople in
many di[erent contexts. It was only on March 28th, 1930, that the government of the Republic of
Turkey decided to o[icially adopt the name “Istanbul”.
Constantinople, later Istanbul, was repopulated by individuals from various regions of the
Ottoman Empire, resulting in its multicultural character. The city also became the capital of the
Ottoman Empire.
The power shifted from south-east Europe to the eastern Mediterranean. The Ottomans gained
control over important trade routes between Europe and Asia. This resulted in a search for
alternatives marking the “Age of Exploration”.
Refugees created an influx of Greek culture and classical knowledge to the West of Europe. Their
ideas had noticeable influence on the renaissance.
1
EUROPEAN ECONOMIC HISTORY
MODULE 4: FROM THE ‘EARLY MODERN TIMES’ TO THE
‘INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION’
KH
, Early modern times:
~ 1450 AD – 18th Century
The fall of the Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantine Empire): 1453 AD
The Conquest of Constantinople:
The Eastern Roman Empire had lost most of its territories. By mid-15th century to the Ottoman
Empire, only the city and a few outlying territories remained. When sultan Mehmed II ascended
the throne in 1451, he started preparing for the Conquest of Constantinople by significantly
increasing the size of its army and using new technologies.
(80.000 – 120.000 soldiers compared to the mere 7.000 from the Eastern Roman Empire)
The siege:
The siege on Constantinople started April 6th and lasted until May 29th, 1453 AD. The reason
Constantinople stood this long can be linked to its city walls nicknamed “Theodosian Walls”.
Unfortunately, the Ottomans had access to heavy cannonry which enabled them to breach the
walls eventually. On May 29th Emperor Constantine XI was killed fighting alongside his soldiers.
Initially after the victory the soldiers looted the city, but Sultan Mehmed II quickly called for order.
He subsequently entered the Hagia Sophia (church at the time) and converted it into a mosque.
Consequences:
Constantinople received the name “Istanbul” in 1453 AD but kept the name Constantinople in
many di[erent contexts. It was only on March 28th, 1930, that the government of the Republic of
Turkey decided to o[icially adopt the name “Istanbul”.
Constantinople, later Istanbul, was repopulated by individuals from various regions of the
Ottoman Empire, resulting in its multicultural character. The city also became the capital of the
Ottoman Empire.
The power shifted from south-east Europe to the eastern Mediterranean. The Ottomans gained
control over important trade routes between Europe and Asia. This resulted in a search for
alternatives marking the “Age of Exploration”.
Refugees created an influx of Greek culture and classical knowledge to the West of Europe. Their
ideas had noticeable influence on the renaissance.
1
