Map of Europe Before the Fall of Constantinople, c. 1450

Illustration

Simeon Netchev
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published on 01 February 2022
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Map of Europe Before the Fall of Constantinople, c. 1450 Download Full Size Image

This map illustrates the political landscape of Europe, East Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa around the year 1450 CE—a pivotal moment on the eve of major geopolitical transformations. At this time, the Byzantine Empire clung to its final outposts as the Ottoman Turks prepared to strike at Constantinople, while new powers consolidated across Eurasia and North Africa.

In 1453, Mehmed II “the Conqueror” (reigned 1444–1446, 1451–1481) would capture Constantinople, marking the fall of the Byzantine Empire and the rise of the Ottoman Empire. In the northeast, Ivan III “the Great” (reigned 1462–1505) began transforming the Grand Duchy of Moscow into the nucleus of the future Russian Empire. Meanwhile, in Western Europe, the Kingdom of France was emerging from the Hundred Years’ War as a centralized monarchy under Charles VII (reigned 1422–1461), while the Crown of Castile and Crown of Aragon in Iberia were growing in power ahead of their eventual unification. The Holy Roman Empire, fragmented yet influential, continued to dominate central Europe. This moment captures a world poised between medieval fragmentation and the formation of powerful early modern states.

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About the Author

Simeon Netchev
Simeon is a freelance visual designer and history teacher, passionate about the human stories that shape the past. He believes every image should tell a story and invite interaction, while every map should lead on a journey — blending imagination with e

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APA Style

Netchev, S. (2022, February 01). Map of Europe Before the Fall of Constantinople, c. 1450. World History Encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://www.worldhistory.org/image/15216/map-of-europe-before-the-fall-of-constantinople-c/

Chicago Style

Netchev, Simeon. "Map of Europe Before the Fall of Constantinople, c. 1450." World History Encyclopedia. Last modified February 01, 2022. https://www.worldhistory.org/image/15216/map-of-europe-before-the-fall-of-constantinople-c/.

MLA Style

Netchev, Simeon. "Map of Europe Before the Fall of Constantinople, c. 1450." World History Encyclopedia. World History Encyclopedia, 01 Feb 2022, https://www.worldhistory.org/image/15216/map-of-europe-before-the-fall-of-constantinople-c/. Web. 15 Jun 2025.

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