| Date | May 2018 | Marks available | 15 | Reference code | 18M.3op1.HL.TZ0.8 |
| Level | Higher level only | Paper | Paper 3 (History of Africa and the Middle East) | Time zone | TZ0 |
| Command term | To what extent | Question number | 8 | Adapted from | N/A |
Question
To what extent did the fall of Constantinople (1453) transform the Ottoman Empire?
Markscheme
The question requires that candidates consider the impact of the fall of Constantinople on the Ottoman Empire. Candidates may refer to the prestige that the city offered to the Ottomans as well as the city’s strategic significance as a gateway to Europe. The city had been a target for the Ottomans for some time and its seizure may have been perceived as a breakthrough. In addition to this, the Constantinople offered the Ottomans new economic opportunities, as the city was a major centre of trade in the Mediterranean. While other relevant factors, for example the role of leaders may be assessed as having a more significant impact, the bulk of the response will remain on the issue raised in the question. Candidates may agree, partly agree or disagree with the suggestion.
