Question

What made the ottoman empire's location strategic

Answer 1

They were near the Black Sea - they had access to water (for trade!) and were fairly secluded from other empires (no one really invaded them, not until Peter the Great of Russia came along and needed a warm water port for trade. And countries like England and the HRE referred to them as the “Eastern Question” - “who are they?” “what are their goals?” “what do they want?”).