Holy War and the Rise of the Ottomans
Tides of History
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The Gazis Thesis: The Attraction of Religious War for the Faith
The idea that Gaza played a key role in early Ottoman success is known as the gazis thesis. A slave raid into Byzantine territory wasn't just a chance to get rich, it was also in accordance with God's will. Oral legends of great Muslim warriors went back to the time of Muhammad and his companions. The Ottomans were quite happy to fight other Muslims. They don't seem to have had any religious qualms about doing that.
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