To be able to talk about further Ottoman invasion in Europe, it is inevitable to know about a war which made them so powerful and influential over the whole Medditeranean. After finally gaining control over whole Anatolia, the Ottomans started to border with the Mamluk Sultanate, another muslim powerful country willing to gain power. Although they were natural for long time, this changed when there wasn't any obstacle e.g. another country, between them.
Although Ottoman were concerned with conqeuring lands in Europe in first 2 centuries, now there was an opportunity for them to gain some in Syria and Egypt. Fortunately for the Ottomans they were at peace with all states in Europe, so they could gather all possible soldiers to stand against the Mamluks. Both sultans, ottoman - Selim and mamluk- Al-Ghawri assembled their armies and marched to face each other. Both armies were about 40 thousand strong.
Each side had its advantages.Mamluks had their famous Mamluk heavy cavalry which was undefeated in the battle field. The Ottomans had many cannons and experienced Janissaries armed with gunpowder weapons.This modern units gave the Ottomans the victory as the Mamluk charge was crushed with sultan's Selim fire power. e Mamluk sultan was killed in this battle
Although Mamluks didn't lose all their man in this battle, it gave Ottomans the opportunity to pressure them and after losing another battle Mamluks lost the war. The Ottomans nearly doubled their territory by anexing those which belonged to Mamluks. That gave them the power to have influence over the whole Medditeranean for next few centuries.
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Did they do anything sensible with all this power? Like educate people, teach them science or at least to cultivate land?
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