The fall of Constantinople in 1453 marked a significant event in European history, symbolizing the end of the Byzantine Empire and the rise of the Ottoman Empire. This event not only shifted the balance of power towards the Ottomans but also had profound cultural and political implications across Europe. It prompted the flow of scholars and texts from the Byzantine Empire into Western Europe, contributing to the Renaissance. Additionally, the fall of Constantinople disrupted trade routes and pushed European powers to seek new paths to Asia, eventually leading to the Age of Exploration. The event also intensified religious conflicts between Christianity and Islam.