The main consequence of the fall of the Byzantine Empire in 1453 was the significant shift in geopolitical power towards the Ottoman Empire. The conquest of Constantinople marked the end of Christian Byzantine rule and the rise of Islamic influence in southeastern Europe. This event led to changes in trade routes and cultural exchanges between Europe and Asia. The fall also created a sense of urgency for the Renaissance movement in Western Europe, as scholars fled to the West, preserving its artistic and scientific heritage, ultimately impacting the development of Europe as a whole.