The end of the Byzantine Empire is marked by the Fall of Constantinople in 1453. Conquered by the Ottoman Turks led by Sultan Mehmed II, this event represented the culmination of centuries of decline and change in the Empire. The fall of its capital, a once-thriving center of trade and culture, led to the complete dissolution of Byzantine political power. This marked a significant turning point in history, as it paved the way for the rise of the Ottoman Empire and altered the balance of power in Eastern Europe and the Mediterranean region.