Ottoman Empire vs Byzantine Empire
At its height the Ottoman Empire (about 5.2 million km² in 1683) was about twice the size of the Byzantine Empire (about 2.7 million km² in 555 CE). The Byzantine Empire lasted about 1123 years (330 CE to 1453), the Ottoman Empire about 623 (1299 to 1922). They existed side by side from 1299 to 1453.
| Ottoman Empire | Byzantine Empire | |
|---|---|---|
| Began | 1299 | 330 CE |
| Ended | 1922 | 1453 |
| Lasted | about 623 years | about 1123 years |
| Largest extent | about 5.2 million km² (1683) | about 2.7 million km² (555 CE) |
| Share of the world’s land | 3.5% | 1.8% |
| Capital | Constantinople (Istanbul) | Constantinople |
Ottoman Empire
Founded by Osman I around 1299, it took Constantinople in 1453 and for centuries ruled southeastern Europe, the Middle East and North Africa, until the sultanate was abolished in 1922.
Began 1299: Osman I founds the state in northwestern Anatolia. Ended 1922: the sultanate is abolished.
On the history map: World map in 1300 CE, World map in 1715 CE, World map in 1920 CE
Byzantine Empire
The eastern Roman Empire, ruled from Constantinople. Justinian won back Italy, North Africa and southern Spain in the 6th century; the empire then shrank slowly until the Ottomans took Constantinople in 1453.
Began 330 CE: Constantinople is founded as the new capital. Ended 1453: the Ottomans take Constantinople.
On the history map: World map in 400 CE, World map in 1000 CE, World map in 1400 CE
More comparisons
- Roman Empire vs Mongol Empire — about 5.0 million km² vs about 24 million km²
- Roman Empire vs Han dynasty — about 5.0 million km² vs about 6.0 million km²
- Roman Empire vs Byzantine Empire — about 5.0 million km² vs about 2.7 million km²
- Roman Empire vs Ottoman Empire — about 5.0 million km² vs about 5.2 million km²
- Roman Empire vs Achaemenid Empire — about 5.0 million km² vs about 5.5 million km²
- Roman Empire vs British Empire — about 5.0 million km² vs about 36 million km²
- Mongol Empire vs British Empire — about 24 million km² vs about 36 million km²
- Mongol Empire vs Russian Empire — about 24 million km² vs about 23 million km²
- Ottoman Empire vs Mughal Empire — about 5.2 million km² vs about 4.0 million km²
- Ottoman Empire vs Russian Empire — about 5.2 million km² vs about 23 million km²
- Achaemenid Empire vs Macedonian Empire — about 5.5 million km² vs about 5.2 million km²
- Han dynasty vs Tang dynasty — about 6.0 million km² vs about 5.4 million km²
- Tang dynasty vs Abbasid Caliphate — about 5.4 million km² vs about 11 million km²
- Umayyad Caliphate vs Abbasid Caliphate — about 11 million km² vs about 11 million km²
- British Empire vs Spanish Empire — about 36 million km² vs about 14 million km²
- Spanish Empire vs Inca Empire — about 14 million km² vs about 2.0 million km²
Compare empires · The interactive history atlas
Largest extents are the widely cited estimates by Rein Taagepera and others, as listed in Wikipedia’s List of largest empires. Dates are the conventional ones; several are debated. Shares are of the world’s land area, about 148.9 million km².