http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ottoman_Empire

This was really interesting to read about. I only read the history section, from rise to defeat and dissolution. Here is a picture of the last sultan of the Ottoman Empire leaving the country after the abolition of the sultanate

. 

And then I clicked on the article about the russo-turkish war of 1877-1878 and learned about Russia’s political realist attempt to reestablish itself in the black sea and regain territory lost in a Crimean War.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russo-Turkish_War_(1877–78)#Changing_balance_of_power_in_Europe

I know it’s just wikipedia and not a real news site, but I think it helps give a broad overview of these things, which helps me put current events in context.