Muhammad likes Latin poetry or prose very much. He also likes pagan art and astrology. He even mastered some basic knowledge of mathematics and knew the history and geography of the world like the back of his hand. All this laid the foundation for later becoming a learned politician and strategist.
Muhammad Ⅱ led the army in the battlefield all his life and made outstanding achievements. He is famous for his fatih. In the defending war, most Aegean islands were captured. During his reign, he also compiled codes, rewarded literature and art, and built buildings.
Muhammad Ⅱ implemented a series of policies in politics, economy, religion and culture, which maintained the stability of the Ottoman Empire and laid a solid foundation for Suleiman I to establish a great empire spanning Europe, Asia and Africa. Therefore, it is regarded by many historians as the real founder of the Ottoman Empire.
The Military Reform Capability of Sultan Muhammad Ⅱ
After wiping out the Guards and the Ma-ti feudal cavalry, Muhammad Ⅱ established a new army with the help of western military advisers. Before him, Osman's army was divided into three types: walking, riding and sea. Infantry is dominated by bows and arrows, and the two armies cooperate with cavalry when confronting each other. Or set up artillery to complete the siege. At that time, fighting mainly depended on cavalry, so the cavalry was well equipped and treated.
Since Muhammad Ⅱ, the navy has become a regular force. In order to control the Black Sea and Aegean Sea, he vigorously developed the navy, established shipyards in many ports, and hired experts from Venice and Greece. Soon he built a fleet that could rival Spain, France or Venice in scale and equipment, and played an important role in attacking Constantinople, conquering Crimea and confronting the Venetians.