East Rises, West Watches: Mehmed II and the Fall of an Empire ,

In 1453, at just 21 years old, he did what no army had done for over a thousand years — he conquered Constantinople, the heart of Eastern Christianity. For Europe, it was the fall of a sacred city. For Mehmed, it was the beginning of a new empire.

✒️ How Western Historians See Him:
“A brilliant strategist and a Renaissance prince in an Eastern empire.”
— Western view highlights his intellect, multilingual skills, and tolerance.

“A leader who united sword and science.”
— He built observatories, invited scholars, and embraced innovation.

To many Europeans of the time, he was “the terror of Christendom.”
But to modern historians, he is seen as a complex, enlightened ruler who blended conquest with culture.

He was the sultan who took a city — and earned a place in world history.