not only preserved classical Greek philosophy and science that was lost in much of Europe but made important original contributions to knowledge and culture.
This highlights how, despite Eurocentric thinking, Africa, the Middle East and Asia were responsible for a lot of the world's scientific advancements during the medieval era.
Galileo's middle finger, preserved in the science museum of Florence, Italy
Galileo's middle finger being taken as a relic is akin to the religious relics of saints that would often be preserved as well. This, perhaps not intentionally, relates to the way science was viewed as another religion almost by people at the time.
Ottomans were actually quite tolerant of ethnic, language, and religious diversity, and their empire was multi-ethnic and multicultural.
If true, this is incredibly ironic considering the Armenian Genocide perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire during WWI. Would be interesting to find out why this shift occured.
He annexed the khanates of Kazan, Astrakhan, and Siberia and recruited Cossacks from southern Russia and Ukraine to colonize Siberia.
Interesting how, in addition to the monetary and commercial benefits colonization would bring him, Ivan IV was possibly also inspired to do this in an effort to pay tribute to Rome's colonization efforts.