THE WORLD SITUATION * A LETTER TO MY SONS

Interesting view point on the past of that region, but it leaves out quite a bit of what really went on. The following site had some interesting points: http://www.geohistory.com/GeoHistory/GHMap...ld/ottoman.html

"At various points in the middle and latter part of the history of the Ottoman Empire, political intrigues and rebellions begun by the Janissaries in turn had to be extinguished by the Ottoman army with the assistance of the armies of their vassal states. When the Janissaries revolted in Constantinople, and executed the reigning Sultan in the eighteenth century, it was a sign that foreboded the beginning of the end of the Ottoman Empire. "

"However, the Ottoman culture greatly benefited the Muslims, who were exempt from taxation, and enjoyed the greatest landholdings, as well as civil and political power. As a result, aspiring Christians converted to Islam. Those that didn't often migrated to the cities where they enjoyed greater commercial freedom. The remaining Christians were treated with respect, subject to both their own and Muslim laws, although they were in many respects second-class citizens."

Must have been nice to be the preferred religion and get all of those tax breaks, and land grants. All the time, there was constant conquest and wars.

Atoyot

 

doesn't look like they got all of the middle east.

Atoyot