Ottoman Empire

After reading the Ottoman Empire I found there to be two things that interested me.  The first being reading about how the Sultan governed the state as a trust from god.  I think it is hard to understand this way of rule because in America political leaders try and keep religion separate from what is expected and what is not expected.  In the Ottoman Empire god is looked highly at and there for decides who should rule and who shouldn't.  Or who should make the rules.  It also seems that in Turkey the leaders do not keep there lives separate from the lives of others. Like mentioned in the readings the government of the empire was regarded as an extension of the sultan's own household, but in a way it sort of is a good thing because the Sultan wants things to run the way he would run his own house.
The second interesting thing I found in the readings was how important woman are to the empire.  They really play an important role and are looked at very highly.  Mothers of reigning sultans became the most powerful political personages in the royal household and financial affairs.  In most countries beside America it is very hard for woman to have that much of a powerful role especially in politics.