To understand the Ottoman Empire is to understand a power more powerful than that of the Romans. It is a flashback not only to borders and war, but to an entire civilization. A civilization so advanced that it consumed lands from the Danube in Europe to the deserts of the Arabian plains. Ottoman power was to be achieved by the first Ottoman ruler, Osman. He was one of the few rulers to attack the Byzantine Empire. Osman was able to transform nomadic Arab and Persian tribes fleeing the Mongols into a fierce army of well-trained soldiers. The Ottomans' notoriety would be felt in 1326. At this point, the raids against the Christians above: A portrait of Osman in the early 14th century leading his people to a victory against the Byzantines. The Byzantine lands had led to an escalation of power among the Ottomans. It was time to strike directly at the Byzantines. Throughout the 1320s and 1330s, the Ottomans captured much of the Byzantine lands, leaving only Constantinople and some lands in Europe. After Osman led a small kingdom into an empire, his sons would rule. To preserve their throne, the Byzantines reached an agreement to allow the Ottomans a share of the lands of Europe. Yet in the campaign against the Byzantines, the Ottomans caused much damage to the Christians in the west and success to the Turks in the east. The Ottomans continued to press Kosovo and Eastern Europe under the control of Murad I. After exploiting Murad, I led the Ottomans to one of their main focal points by capturing land in Europe and conquering the Byzantines. The next ascension of the sultans was Bayazid. He was a sultan with great intentions. With the western lands currently stable, it was time to establish a new foothold in Anatolia (present-day Türkiye) and the Arab lands. His attempts, as a Muslim ruler, to conquer Muslim lands offended many soldiers in his own ranks. The Christians of Ottoman Europe, who were invaded by the Muslims, however, were more than happy to return the favor. With the Christians doing the dirty work for him, his reign soon fell. He died as a prisoner in Anatolia because of insurgents and rebels in his country. Sultan Mohammed I, however, arrived in time to reestablish control..