How did the Ottoman Empire react to the discovery of the American continent?

 The Ottoman Empire was aware of the discovery of the American continent, but its reaction to this event was relatively limited. At the time of Columbus's voyage, the Ottoman Empire was in the midst of a period of expansion and conquest, with the conquest of Constantinople occurring just a few decades earlier. As such, the Ottomans were primarily focused on consolidating their power in Europe and expanding their empire in the Mediterranean and the Middle East.

Despite this, the Ottomans did have some contact with the New World, primarily through trade. Ottoman merchants traveled extensively throughout the Mediterranean and beyond, establishing trade networks that stretched as far as India, China, and Southeast Asia. As such, it is possible that they may have encountered goods from the New World, such as tobacco or maize, although this is not well documented.

In terms of official diplomatic relations, the Ottomans did not establish formal relations with the New World powers, such as Spain or Portugal. However, the Ottomans did maintain diplomatic and trade relations with other European powers, including France, England, and the Netherlands, which had established colonies in the Americas. These relations were primarily focused on trade, but also included cultural and intellectual exchanges.

Overall, while the Ottoman Empire was aware of the discovery of the American continent, its reaction to this event was relatively limited, and did not significantly impact the course of Ottoman history or the development of the Ottoman Empire.