Millet system

My name is Zeke.  I don't like sharing information about myself so I'm not going to.  If you have a question you may ask and I may answer.  Looking forward to learning with all of you.
The Millet system was created by the Ottoman Empire in response to the presence of many different Abrahamic religious groups living within it's borders.  Due to the presence of these different religious groups the Ottoman Empire realized that they had to establish a means that would govern these communities, they could mandate that those living within their territories to convert to Islam and follow all of their laws, allow them to retain their original religious identity but insist that they obey Muslim beliefs or any number to possible responses.  The Millet system was created to allow for those following another religion to maintain their autonomy while existing as part of the Empire.  By allowing Jews and other religious groups immigrating or being incorporated into the empire to retain their cultural identity it forestalled rebellion and at the same time helped to prevent attacks by a Muslim majority.  By accepting Jews and Christians as an important religious group it made them parts of the larger community by explaining Judaism and then Christianity as religious groups that followed the same God, but different texts received before the revelation of the prophet Mohammad.  This meant that Jews and Christians were not mandated to convert to Islam unless by their own choice, and though they could not convert others it still allowed them to keep their independent cultural identity.  The true genius of the Millet system was the responsibility that that put upon these communities of Jews and Christians living within the Ottoman Empire.  By placing responsibility on their own shoulders to build their religious buildings, schools, road and courts meant that they had great autonomy but had to work hard to improve their community.  One of the greatest problems faced by expanding empires was dealing with dissatisfied citizens in new areas.  By placing the responsibility on these communities it lessened the feeling of being controlled and promoted industry.  If a criminal within a Jewish community was to be tried, it was under Jewish law.  The sentence a criminal received was not a verdict handed down from some foreign capital, but one agreed upon by prominent figures within the community.  If a community felt their temple was inadequate it was upon them to earn the money for renovations, train artisans skilled enough to make a new one and maintain the new temple.  The Millet system was an amazing compromise that, at the price of allowing Jews and other religious groups to keep a separate cultural identity, expected minority groups within the empire to look after themselves and contribute to the well being of the empire.