how was the relationship betweeen the ottomans and byzatines the opposite of the relationship between the ottomans and the hasburgs
The relationship between the Ottomans and the Byzantines and the relationship between the Ottomans and the Habsburgs were quite different from each other.
1. Religion: One of the main differences was their religious affiliation. The Byzantines were Christians, mainly belonging to the Eastern Orthodox Church, whereas the Ottomans were Muslims. This religious difference created a significant barrier between the two empires, leading to conflicts and later the fall of Byzantium to the Ottomans in 1453.
2. Political power: The Byzantine Empire and the Ottoman Empire coexisted for several centuries, with the Byzantines gradually losing territories to the advancing Ottomans. However, the Byzantines initially had a more substantial political power and a well-established empire, while the Ottomans were a rising power. The Byzantines had a strong bureaucracy and a functioning administrative structure, while the Ottomans were still a nomadic tribal society.
3. Legacy and culture: The Byzantine Empire had a long-standing and well-established civilization, which preserved and inherited the ancient Greek and Roman legacy. Byzantines excelled in arts, literature, philosophy, and science, while the Ottoman Empire developed its unique culture and identity as it expanded. The Ottomans were influenced by their Turkic, Persian, and Arab roots, resulting in a different cultural and artistic legacy.
4. Nature of conflict: The relationship between the Ottomans and the Byzantines was characterized by territorial battles, sieges, and military confrontations. On the other hand, the relationship between the Ottomans and the Habsburgs involved numerous wars, political alliances, and struggles for dominance in Europe. The Ottomans had been threatening the Habsburgs' control over parts of Europe, especially Hungary and the Balkans, which led to continuous conflicts and power struggles.
Overall, while the relationship between the Ottomans and the Byzantines was a clash of civilizations and religions, based on territorial conquest, the relationship with the Habsburgs involved complex political dynamics and competitions for geopolitical dominance within Europe.