The relationship between the Ottoman Empire and Europe has traditionally been viewed in terms of conflict. History books are full of accounts of the Ottoman conquest of the Balkans and of Constantinople, as well as the conquest of Hungary and the ensuing conflict with the Habsburg Empire, which would stretch into the twentieth century. When the topic turns to questions outside the realm of warfare, however, things become murkier. While the many wars—as well as the occasional bout of peace—between the Ottomans and the West are focused on in detail, the role of the Ottomans in Europe outside of war is often seen in much broader terms. Often the focus is on Turkish attitudes towards their Christian subjects, with a special focus on the Turkish practice of enslaving Christian children for military service. In reality, the relationship between the Ottomans and the Christian peasantry they ruled was much more complex. The intricacies of this relationship, however, are often lost behind the politics and war, which dominated Turkish-European relations
