I have to point to two issues: 1) The melting pot of civilizations in the regions of Egypt started with Alexander the Great who initiated the policy of mixing identities. He married twice with Persian daughters of local kings and encouraged his soldiers to marry local girls as well. He was even accused by many Greeks that he adapted the Persian way of life, hence questioning the supremacy of the greek worldview. The centuries that followed, known as Hellenistic Years and involved the kingdoms of his successors, converted all regions of modern Greece, Turkey (Turks had not arrived yet from the depths of East), Syria, Iran, Egypt etc, to a huge melting pot that soon was conquered by the Romans. A major factor that contributed to the interaction between all this people is the dominance of the greek as common language (the New Testament is the proof of it). 2) The Ottoman Empire is differently perceived by those who lived as its subjects. Yes they used people of different origin to serve their purposes.This was a practice put in place to serve their interests and not because of respect to liberal values. For example, on occasional raids they violently took from their families mail children aged 8-9 and put them in facilities near the palace to train them as soldiers. This troops were the more loyal to the Sultan because of the brainwash they had been suffered. Consequently, furiously fought against Greeks sometimes their own families. How liberal is that? Last notice, in the region of modern Greece civilization thrived for thousands of years under the impact of successive empires (Greek, Hellenistic years, Roman and Byzantine). Under the last Ottoman occupation, that lasted almost 500 years, civilization in Greece literally faded out with the repercussions still visible. The border line of the Ottoman empire was river Danube. I dare you to compare Budapest (outside Ottoman Empire) with Belgrade (inside Ottoman empire). The traces of both times are still there.
I have to point to two issues:
1) The melting pot of civilizations in the regions of Egypt started with Alexander the Great who initiated the policy of mixing identities. He married twice with Persian daughters of local kings and encouraged his soldiers to marry local girls as well. He was even accused by many Greeks that he adapted the Persian way of life, hence questioning the supremacy of the greek worldview.
The centuries that followed, known as Hellenistic Years and involved the kingdoms of his successors, converted all regions of modern Greece, Turkey (Turks had not arrived yet from the depths of East), Syria, Iran, Egypt etc, to a huge melting pot that soon was conquered by the Romans. A major factor that contributed to the interaction between all this people is the dominance of the greek as common language (the New Testament is the proof of it).
2) The Ottoman Empire is differently perceived by those who lived as its subjects. Yes they used people of different origin to serve their purposes.This was a practice put in place to serve their interests and not because of respect to liberal values.
For example, on occasional raids they violently took from their families mail children aged 8-9 and put them in facilities near the palace to train them as soldiers. This troops were the more loyal to the Sultan because of the brainwash they had been suffered. Consequently, furiously fought against Greeks sometimes their own families. How liberal is that?
Last notice, in the region of modern Greece civilization thrived for thousands of years under the impact of successive empires (Greek, Hellenistic years, Roman and Byzantine). Under the last Ottoman occupation, that lasted almost 500 years, civilization in Greece literally faded out with the repercussions still visible. The border line of the Ottoman empire was river Danube. I dare you to compare Budapest (outside Ottoman Empire) with Belgrade (inside Ottoman empire). The traces of both times are still there.