I am writing a paper in which I argue that one of the major turning points in the decline of the Byzantines and, consequently, the rise of the Ottomans, was the civil war that broke out in the Byzantine Empire. However, I can't find much information about it beyond Wikipedia. Anyone know anything about this? Thanks in advance for any help
Eleventh century Byzantium was wracked with civil wars, can you be more specific? Do you mean post-1071 events? If so, the beginning chapters in The First Crusade: The Call from the East give an excellent and up to date description of what was happening in Anatolia after Manzikert. If you mean earlier events, I can help with that, too. This is my favorite century to study.
Good Byzantine primary sources on the period are:
Fourteen Byzantine Rulers: The Chronographia of Michael Psellus covers the 11th century up to the Doukas dynasty, but the information on the Doukas family is florid and heavily biased.
The Alexiad covers the reign of Nikephoros III Botaneiates in the context of Alexios' usurpation, which mostly ended the chronic domestic instability.
The History by Michael Attaliates which ends with Botaneiates, who the author praises.
A Synopsis of Byzantine History, 811-1057 which covers up to the crowning of Isaac I Komnenos as Emperor.
the rise of the Ottomans
A warning: Specifically naming the Ottomans is a very bold claim to make because they didn't become a force until the late 13th century and there were plenty of consequential events before then, like the Fourth Crusade.