The Ottoman Conquest of Constantinople occurred in 1453 when the Ottoman Empire, led by Sultan Mehmed II, captured the city of Constantinople, which had been the capital of the Byzantine Empire. This event marked the end of the Byzantine Empire and significantly expanded Ottoman territory, establishing Constantinople as the new capital of the Ottomans. The conquest was facilitated by advanced military technology, including the use of large cannons to breach the city's formidable walls. The fall of Constantinople also had profound cultural and political implications, leading to the spread of Islam in the region and influencing trade routes between Europe and Asia.