Which empire conquered the byzantines and held sway over the middle east for nearly 500 years?

The answer is the Ottoman Empire.

The Ottoman Empire conquered the Byzantine Empire and its capital, Constantinople, in 1453 CE. Since then, the Ottoman Empire remained as a strong power and its sovereignty spanned from the Balkans and Anatolia to the Middle East and all of North-Africa. Since it was an Islamic empire, it influenced strongly in the culture and politics of the Middle East. This empire collapsed with the end of the World War I in 1919, and most of its former territories were divided by the British and the French or formed new nation-states. The Republic of Turkey is the direct heir state of the Ottoman Empire.

the award is named for an american naval historian and theorist, rear admiral alfred thayer mahan, united states navy who, through his writing, provided stimulus and guidance to those who share in the defense of the nation.

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