Comment by mantas

Culture is proxy to ethnicity and religion. And it’s pretty close. E.g. Christmas celebration all around „secular“ Europe.

Ottoman rule in Balkans was quite horrific. E.g. Christian’s having to pay tax in young kids most of whom would never see home again. Yet it was rather peaceful with ottomans enforcing the peace :)

I’m not that familiar with Jews in Middle East up to 19th century. But IIRC there were plenty of pogroms. And taxes differentiated by religion was common in most Muslim regimes. As well as overall relation with government, ability to make a career etc.