Historical atlas · Map guide
Interactive Ottoman Empire map
This Ottoman Empire map opens on 1 January 1683 with the empire selected. Explore its boundary, inspect its historical period, and move the timeline to compare earlier or later Ottoman territories.
A dated view of Ottoman territory
The selected Ottoman period runs from 1 October 1540 to 26 January 1699. The map opens at 1 January 1683 within that interval. Read the start and end dates in the details panel, or change the timeline to explore another period.
Follow the empire's outline around the eastern Mediterranean and surrounding territories. Zoom in on a border, then select a neighboring country to see its name and historical period.
Use the timeline to investigate later Ottoman borders
Keep this map view and change the year to explore another stage. Search Ottoman with All periods enabled to find records outside the current date. A territory's end date is excluded, so the old stage disappears on that day even if a new stage begins immediately afterward.
Keep the camera fixed while changing the date to compare the same area. Use Share view to save a link to the date and camera, or export the displayed territories as GeoJSON for further exploration.
Territories in this starting view
Explore these territories at this page's starting date. The Countries layer contains 178 active territory records worldwide at this date.
| Territory | Recorded start | Recorded end |
|---|---|---|
| Ottoman Empire | 1540-10-01 | 1699-01-26 |
How to use the historical map
- Enter a year and choose CE or BCE. Set the month and day when you need a particular date.
- Choose a region or drag the map to the area you want to investigate.
- Search for a territory and open its details. Enable All periods to search outside the current date.
- Move the timeline, play it automatically, or jump to the previous or next recorded boundary change.
- Use Share view to copy the current date and camera. Export GeoJSON to download the active records in the selected layer.
Questions about historical maps
What is a historical map?
A historical map represents geography at a specified past date or period. This atlas reconstructs recorded political boundaries on a modern coastline. It is a dated border viewer, rather than a collection of scanned maps printed in the past.
How do I see country borders in a particular year?
Enter the year, choose CE or BCE, and set the month and day. The map displays records whose start date has been reached and whose end date has not yet been reached. Use the region controls to move the camera without changing the selected date.
Which years does the timeline cover?
You can choose dates from 8000 BCE through 29 September 2026. Use Ancient, Pre-modern, Modern, or All time to change the timeline range, then enter a year or drag the timeline to explore a particular date.
Can I download the historical map as GeoJSON?
Yes. Use Export GeoJSON for the current date to download the territories displayed in the selected country or empire layer. Choose the date and layer before exporting to save that view's boundaries.