Understanding the modern Muslim world.

In order to get a proper understanding of the tensions underpinning the current conflicts in the Muslim world we need to consider their roots. The rise of a new power in the region that of the Ottoman's in modern day Turkey - starting in 1301. Their success in taking Constantinople in 1453. At that time Constantinople (now Istanbul) was the home of the Eastern Rome Catholic Church. The Ottomans continued this empire building until its eventual fall in 1918 after WW1. This as will be noted by the perspicuous an abridged history - to get the fuller picture watch a Rageh Omaar's fascinating programme on BBC2  The Ottomans: Europe's Muslim Emperors. The conflict today between Egypt, Syria and Turkey is reflected in part by this struggle for dominance between the two strands of Islam - Sunni and Shir.