The Ottoman Expansion and the Greek Lands in the Mid-14th Century: Consequences and Transformations

Following the capture of Gallipoli by the Ottomans in 1354 and their subsequent expansion into the Balkans, the Greek lands entered a period of profound instability and upheaval. Widespread desolation, looting, and plundering resulted in a significant demographic decline and the establishment of adverse living conditions. Adapting to the new political and social realities was an unprecedented experience for the local population and manifested in various ways—resistance, migration, conversion to Islam, among others. The overall picture of this transitional period, however, remains obscure. This presentation aims to elucidate several aspects of the Ottoman conquest of Byzantine territories and to examine its long-term historical consequences and social transformations.