The Ottoman Empire was a Turkic political entity that converted to Islam before rapidly expanding to rule the Middle East, North Africa and Southeast Europe. It would begin to methodically capture Greek peoples and lands in Anatolia (modern Turkey) in 1299, entering Europe by 1354, before terminating the Byzantine Empire with the capture of the capital of Constantinople in 1453. Greeks endured under Turkish rule for roughly 400 years. During this time, they would largely remain a distinct nationality, but would have a minor genetic cross-pollination with the ruling Turks, who populated Anatolia next door to the east, muddying the ethnic divisions somewhat, especially in the borderlands. In which case, there is a minor Turk component to the modern Greek genetic composition.