Editing Imperialism (section)

===Ottoman===
{{Main|Ottoman Empire|Territorial evolution of the Ottoman Empire}}
[[File:OttomanEmpire1683.png|thumb|300px|The Ottoman Empire in 1683; core possessions in dark green; [[Vassal and tributary states of the Ottoman Empire|vassal or autonomous areas]] in light green.]]

The Ottoman Empire was an imperial state that lasted from 1299 to 1922. In 1453, [[Mehmed the Conqueror]] captured [[Fall of Constantinople|Constantinople]] and made it his capital. During the 16th and 17th centuries, in particular at the height of its power under the reign of [[Suleiman the Magnificent]], the Ottoman Empire was a powerful multinational, multilingual empire, which [[Turks in Europe#Ottoman migration|invaded and colonized]] much of Southeast Europe, Western Asia, the [[Caucasus]], North Africa, and the [[Horn of Africa]]. Its repeated invasions, and brutal treatment of Slavs led to the [[Great Migrations of the Serbs]] to escape persecution. At the beginning of the 17th century the empire contained [[Provinces of the Ottoman Empire|32 provinces]] and numerous [[Vassal and tributary states of the Ottoman Empire|vassal states]]. Some of these were later absorbed into the empire, while others were granted various types of autonomy during the course of centuries.<ref>Jane Hathaway, ''The Arab Lands under Ottoman Rule, 1516–1800'' (2008).</ref>

Following a long period of [[Ottoman wars in Europe|military setbacks]] against European powers, the Ottoman Empire gradually [[Decline of the Ottoman Empire|declined]], losing control of much of its territory in Europe and Africa.

By 1810 Egypt was effectively independent. In 1821–1829 the Greeks in the [[Greek War of Independence]] were assisted by Russia, Britain and France. In 1815 to 1914 the Ottoman Empire could exist only in the conditions of acute rivalry of the great powers, with Britain its main supporter, especially in the [[Crimean War]] 1853–1856, against Russia. After Ottoman defeat in the [[Russo-Turkish War (1877–1878)]], Bulgaria, Serbia and Montenegro gained independence and Britain took colonial control of [[Cyprus]], while [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]] were occupied and annexed by [[Austria-Hungary|Austro-Hungarian Empire]] in 1908.

The empire allied with Germany in World War I with the imperial ambition of recovering its lost territories, but it [[Dissolution of the Ottoman Empire|dissolved]] in the aftermath of its decisive defeat. The Kemalist national movement, supported by Soviet Russia, achieved victory in the course of the [[Turkish War of Independence]], and the parties signed and ratified the [[Treaty of Lausanne]] in 1923 and 1924. The [[Republic of Turkey]] was established.<ref>Caroline Finkel, (2005). ''Osman's Dream: The Story of the Ottoman Empire, 1300–1923''.</ref>