The Final Synthesis

Hagia Sophia: The Final Synthesis

Mosque Museum Mosque 85 years

5.1 Introduction

To understand the transition of Hagia Sophia to a museum, we need to shed the light on the fall of the Ottoman Sultanate following its fateful entry into World War I. Seeking to safeguard its borders against Russian ambitions and recover lost lands, the Sultanate joined the Central Powers of Germany and Austria-Hungary. They were fighting the Allied Powers primarily led by Great Britain, France, and Russia (later joined by Italy and the United States). For four years, they fought on multiple front: -

• They were fighting the Russians in the freezing Caucasus

mountains.

• They were fighting the British in the scorching deserts

of Palestine, Iraq, and Egypt. Also, they were defending their own heartland at Gallipoli.