By the 15th century, the expanding Ottoman Empire overpowered the Balkan Peninsula, but faced successful rebellion and resistance by the League of Lezhë, a union of Albanian principalities led by Gjergj Kastrioti Skanderbeg. By the 17th and 18th centuries, a substantial number of Albanians converted to Islam, which offered them equal opportunities and advancement within the Ottoman Empire.; ; ; ; ; . Thereafter, Albanians attained significant positions and culturally contributed to the broader Muslim world. Innumerable officials and soldiers of the Ottoman State were of Albanian origin, including more than 40 Grand Viziers, and under the Köprülü, in particular, the Ottoman Empire reached its greatest territorial extension. Between the second half of the 18th century and the first half of the 19th century Albanian Pashaliks were established by Kara Mahmud pasha of Scutari, Ali pasha of Yanina, and Ahmet Kurt pasha of Berat, while the Albanian wālī Muhammad Ali established a dynasty that ruled over Egypt and Sudan until the middle of the 20th century, a period in which Albanians formed a substantial community in Egypt.
By the 15th century the expanding Ottoman Empire overpowered the Balkan Peninsula but faced successful rebellion and resistance by the League of Lezhë a union of Albanian principalities led by Gjergj Kastrioti Skanderbeg By the 17th and 18th centuries a substantial number of Albanians converted to Islam which offered them equal opportunities and advancement within the Ottoman Empire; ; ; ; ;  Thereafter Albanians attained significant positions and culturally contributed to the broader Muslim world Innumerable officials and soldiers of the Ottoman State were of Albanian origin including more than 40 Grand Viziers and under the Köprülü in particular the Ottoman Empire reached its greatest territorial extension Between the second half of the 18th century and the first half of the 19th century Albanian Pashaliks were established by Kara Mahmud pasha of Scutari Ali pasha of Yanina and Ahmet Kurt pasha of Berat while the Albanian wālī Muhammad Ali established a dynasty that ruled over Egypt and Sudan until the middle of the 20th century a period in which Albanians formed a substantial community in Egypt