(07-29-2014 12:17 PM)ClairtonPanther Wrote:  Where would the world be today if the Muslims Turks didn't sack Constantinople and take away the land trade routes with China & India? Would Middle Eastern relations be stronger today if that didn't happen?

No. At the time the city was conquered, it was the only bastion of Christianity in a realm surrounded by Muslims. Muslims have never had any reason to live in harmony with Christians, primarily due to the ruthlessness of Christians early in the history of the church. I doubt it would have changed anything significant, except for Turkish history. Faith Sultan Mehmet would have been just another tribal leader, and some other sultan would have grabbed all the glory later on.