It has pleased western historians to write of a decline of the Ottoman Empire as though a stable and uncontested polity of that name once existed. The borders did expand and contract but they were always dynamic and always in "question" right from the beginning. The Ottoman Empire was created from the lands of the former eastern Roman Empire on the occasion of the latter's violent demise. The last Roman emperor died fighting hand-to-hand in the streets of his capital, Constantinople, overwhelmed by the Ottoman military, in May, 1453. The victors inherited his remaining territory in the Balkans. COUNT 5
QSN1 What has pleased western historians? ANS1 to write of a decline of the Ottoman Empire QSN2 What was always in question from the beginning of the Ottoman Empire?  ANS2 The borders QSN3 What was the Ottoman Empire created from? ANS3 the lands of the former eastern Roman Empire QSN4 How did the last Roman emperor die? ANS4 fighting hand-to-hand in the streets QSN5 Where was the Roman emperor's capital? ANS5 Constantinople