Comparing Eastern Roman Empire To The Ottoman Empire

Empires have risen and fallen due to the exchange of power resulting from land and sea disputes. As a new empire settles in and establishes new rules, the fundamentals of normal operation are thrown off and other countries are forced to adapt. Often times these changes bring new opportunities for education and discovery. Deviations from the norm causes people to think in different ways, opening up new opportunities for people to grow and succeed. The change in power that resulted from the fall of Constantine and the Eastern Roman Empire to the Ottoman Empire in 1453 led to the exploration of the Americas in the late 1400s. The Eastern Roman Empire remained in power from their separation of the Western Empire in 300 AD, until it was defeated in 1453 by the Ottoman Empire. Despite Constantine’s countless efforts to stop the Ottoman soldiers, Constantinople soldiers, led by Giustiniani, were outnumbered. The Ottomans came into Constantinople through a straight by the Sea of Marmara defeating the Roman fleet easily.
Many ships from different countries around the world were seized by the Ottomans and were forced to convert to Islam in exchange for passage. Sailors were turned away by this in fear they would be captured and forced to change their religion. Another distasteful element of Ottoman rule was the increase on tolls to sail in the waters around the Mediterranean Sea. Business became more sporadic and did not do well under the Ottomans. Around the time of the fall of Constantinople, the Age of Exploration and Discovery was prominent. The seas, which were controlled by the Ottomans, were important to explorers in order to find and claim new lands. Explorers needed a different way to discover new lands without passage of the Mediterranean Sea to avoid the religious and financial threats the Ottomans forced upon