... Malta)
Hey there,
since I'm anything but a history buff but I'm in need of that information with regard to an alternate history writing contest (deadline: ten days beyond the apocalypse, which seems rather ballsy to me), I'd like to know what would have changed if
- the ottomans had vanquished the Knights Hospitaller in 1565
- the Battle of Lepanto had turned out differently (also in favor of the ottomans) or
- von Hompesch had put up a fight against Napoleon in 1798 (let's dismiss the fact that the act of raising arms against fellow Christians was strictly forbidden according to the Knights' principles)
What would today's Europe look like, especially in case of scenario 1 and 2? Would Muslims have overrun us and would they have 'ideologically hampered' any kind of technological progress out of tune with their interpretation of the Koran?
I hope, this vague brainchild of mine doesn't come across as offensive. I simply am incapable of incorporating each and every possible path history could have taken up until the 20th century as a consequence of such a divergence into my even vaguer thought processes. And I'd be grateful for any input that may finally trigger an idea worth being put on paper.
Have a nice day!
blaspor