The Ottoman Empire was an imperial realm that controlled much of Southeast Europe, West Asia, and North Africa from the 14th to early 20th centuries; it also controlled parts of southeastern Central Europe, between the early 16th and early 18th centuries. One of the largest and longest lasting empires in history, the Ottoman Empire was ruled by ethnic Turkic peoples and for most of its history the seat of power was at Constantinople, hence it was also known as the Turkish Empire. While Islamic, the empire included large populations of other faiths and non-Turkic ethnicities in territories under its control.