Our research group has initiated a comparative, ethnographic-based project to study the political and social organization of Muslim-Christian relations in this internationally strategic area bridging the Middle East and Europe. For over 400 years the Eastern Mediterranean and the Balkans were part of the Ottoman Empire. As a result, there were many similarities in their civil, legal, political and military organization. To what extent do the current patterns of ethno-religious identification, coexistence, and conflict reflect this common legacy? What are the commonalities and differences in the legends, myths, and mutual enemy imagery among the population of the two regions? And do the commonalities have their origin in the Ottoman past or in more recent events and circumstances?