"The conquest of Istanbul was a matter of life and death not only for the reign of Sultan Mehmed but for the Ottoman State itself. Fatih Mehmed was the last Ottoman ruler to feel this vital cause of the state in the most tragic way for his own person and his future. He will attempt to cut the knot with his sword." — Halil İnalcık

First published in 1954, Researches and Documents on the Age of Mehmed the Conqueror is one of the foundational works that placed the Ottoman Empire at the center of global historiography. Distilled from rich primary sources, the book analyzes the early sultanate experience of Mehmed II—who would soon secure a pivotal place in world history as the Conqueror—and explores the intense power struggles he faced with his father and leading statesmen to consolidate his rule.

Divided into four chapters, the first three parts focus on the tense decade (1443–1453) leading up to the conquest of Istanbul. This era, defined by İnalcık as an "imperial crisis," encompasses critical events such as Murad II's abdication, the defeat of the Crusader army at Varna in 1444, Murad II's return to the throne, and the fierce political rivalries among the Ottoman elite. In the fourth chapter, İnalcık examines the land and administrative systems established by the Ottomans in the Balkans, offering a perspective that fundamentally challenges previous assumptions about their settlement in the region. Used as a definitive reference for over half a century, this masterpiece remains an essential resource for historians and history enthusiasts alike.