--- title: Map of Europe Before the Fall of Constantinople, c. 1450 author: Simeon Netchev source: https://www.worldhistory.org/image/15216/map-of-europe-before-the-fall-of-constantinople-c/ format: machine-readable-alternate license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0) updated: 2025-12-02 --- # Map of Europe Before the Fall of Constantinople, c. 1450 _Authored by [Simeon Netchev](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/simeonnetchev/)_ ## Image File [![Map of Europe Before the Fall of Constantinople, c. 1450](https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/15216.png)](https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/15216.png) ## Image Caption Around 1450 CE, [Europe](https://www.worldhistory.org/europe/) and the Middle East were defined by fragmentation, declining medieval powers, and the rise of new regional states. The [Byzantine Empire](https://www.worldhistory.org/Byzantine_Empire/) had contracted to [Constantinople](https://www.worldhistory.org/Constantinople/) and a few outposts, while the [Ottoman Empire](https://www.worldhistory.org/Ottoman_Empire/) under Murad II (reign 1421–1451) pressed hard against its borders, setting the stage for the [city](https://www.worldhistory.org/city/)’s imminent fall. In the Latin West, France emerged from the final phase of the [Hundred Years](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Hundred_Years/)’ [War](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/War/) as a more unified monarchy under Charles VII (reign 1422–1461), and the crowns of Castile and Aragon strengthened their authority ahead of their later dynastic union. In Eastern Europe, political power remained dispersed: Moscow, Tver, Ryazan, and Novgorod operated as semi-autonomous principalities still formally linked, though unevenly, to the [Golden Horde](https://www.worldhistory.org/Golden_Horde/), whose authority was weakening but not yet broken. Across the Middle East, the Mamluk Sultanate held [Egypt](https://www.worldhistory.org/egypt/) and [Syria](https://www.worldhistory.org/syria/), while Qara Qoyunlu dominated much of Iran and Iraq, forming a patchwork of competing dynasties. In the years immediately surrounding 1450, these dynamics produced rapid realignments. The Ottoman [conquest](https://www.worldhistory.org/warfare/) of Constantinople in 1453 under [Mehmed II](https://www.worldhistory.org/Mehmed_II/) “the Conqueror” (reign 1444–1446, 1451–1481) ended the last remnant of the [Roman Empire](https://www.worldhistory.org/Roman_Empire/) and reshaped the balance of power in the eastern [Mediterranean](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/mediterranean/). Further north, the continued weakening of the Golden Horde created expansion openings for growing regional powers. Meanwhile, Western European monarchies consolidated fiscal and military institutions, laying the foundations for the more centralized states that would come to define the early modern era. #### Editorial Review This human-authored image has been reviewed by our editorial team before publication to ensure accuracy, reliability and adherence to academic standards in accordance with our [editorial policy](https://www.worldhistory.org/static/editorial-policy/). ## About the Author Simeon is a freelance visual designer and history educator, passionate about the human stories that shape the past. - [Linkedin Profile](https://www.linkedin.com/in/simeon-netchev/) ## Cite This Work ### APA Netchev, S. (2022, February 01). Map of Europe Before the Fall of Constantinople, c. 1450. *World History Encyclopedia*. ### Chicago Netchev, Simeon. "Map of Europe Before the Fall of Constantinople, c. 1450." *World History Encyclopedia*, February 01, 2022. . ### MLA Netchev, Simeon. "Map of Europe Before the Fall of Constantinople, c. 1450." *World History Encyclopedia*, 01 Feb 2022, . ## License & Copyright Submitted by [Simeon Netchev](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/simeonnetchev/ "User Page: Simeon Netchev"), published on 01 February 2022. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0deed.en). This licence only allows others to download this content and share it with others as long as the author is credited, but they can't change the content in any way or use it commercially. When republishing on the web a hyperlink back to the original content source URL must be included. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.