The territory of what is now the Republic of Serbia is part of the Ottoman Empire throughout the Early Modern period.

Ottoman culture significantly influences the region, in architecture, cuisine, language, and dress, especially in arts, and Islam.In the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, the Serbian Despotate had been subdued by the Ottoman conquest of the Balkans.

The Ottomans defeat the Serbs at the Battle of Maritsa in 1371, making vassals of the southern governors, soon thereafter, the Emperor died.

As Uroš was childless and the nobility could not agree on the rightful heir, the Empire had been ruled by semi-independent provincial lords, who often were in feuds with one another.

The most powerful of these, Tsar Lazar, a Duke of present-day central Serbia (which had not yet come under Ottoman rule), had stood against the Ottomans at the Battle of Kosovo in 1389.

The result was indecisive, but it resulted in the subsequent fall of Serbia.

Stefan Lazarević, the son of Lazar, succeeded as ruler, but had by 1394 had become an Ottoman vassal.

In 1402 he renounced Ottoman rule and became an Hungarian ally, the years following are characterized by the Ottomans and Hungary battling over the territory of Serbia.

In 1453, the Ottomans had conquered Constantinople, and in 1458 Athens was taken.

In 1459, Serbia is annexed, Greece as well, a year later.Several minor, unsuccessful and short-lived revolts are conducted against Ottoman rule mostly with the help of the Habsburgs; 1594, 1688–1691, 1718–1739 and 1788.

In 1799, the dahia (jannissary leaders, high-status infantry in the provinces) take over the Sanjak of Smederevo, renouncing the Sultan and imposing higher taxes.

In 1804, they murder the most notable intellectuals and nobles, known as the Slaughter of the Dukes.

In retaliation, the Serbs take up arms and have by 1806 killed or driven out all of the dahia, but the fight does not stop.

When the Sultan sends the new Pasha into the province, the Serbs kill him.

The revolt continsd, in what becomes known as the First Serbian Uprising, with the Serbs under Karageorge defeating the Turks in several battles, liberating most of central Serbia—a fully working government is established.

In 1813, Serbs suffer a huge defeat, an unsuccessful rebellion follows in 1814, and in 1815 the Second Serbian Uprising begins.

By 1817, Serbia is de facto independent (as the Principality of Serbia).