The effects of the Ottoman Empire on modern day Crete Essay

The effects of the Ottoman Empire on modern day Crete - Essay Example Crete, therefore, has a rich history that informs how individuals strove to build a better world for the rest of the human population. The past struggles of the Cretan people define their modern culture. Multiple events helped create the Cretan culture. To begin with, conquests have made the modern day Crete. This mainly occurred due to the wealth associated with the Island as different parties sought to gain economically from Crete. In addition, religion hugely influenced the development of the region. This occurred in terms of religious conversion and religious conflicts. Notably, Islam and Christianity informed the cultures and attitudes of the residents of Crete. In addition, intervention by international parties influenced the development of Crete. Modern Cretans have a culture of self-defense and self-reliance. In this sense, the citizens believe that they should assume the responsibility of their own lives. In such a nation, individuals slightly delineate from politics since they believe pure hard work relieves one from poverty. Self-reliance is notable in the military culture of Cretans. For instance, a significant number of surveys note that every household in Crete owns at least one gun. These guns are either legal or illegal. In the 17th century’s rebellions against the Christian rule, the Ottoman authorities usually responded by executing several bishops and Christians. In turn, the Greeks attacked the Turkish people. It is notable that there were huge casualties on both sides of the war. The Muslims who migrated into the northern fortified towns experienced famine that consumed almost 60% of the population (Kyriakopoulos, 2008). These experiences seemed to have forged an attitude among Cretans that the state mig ht not always protect them. In this turn, they ensure their own security by owning guns. The Cretans have a contemporary language that borrows heavily from the region’s development. In as much as the general