We may disagree about some details but I have immense respect for your knowledge and contribution here. Pity you didn’t indulge my curiosity on where you’re from.
Amazing that you know the Green Mosque in Iznik! This city is incredible, it invented my favorite ceramic/porcelain design anywhere (I also like Kutahya style) and it’s the birthplace of Christianism as a structured religion.
That’s what makes Anatolia a cradle of Civilization, a melting pot of knowledge, a seat of Empires. The Byzantines were the most advanced civ for much of the early AoE4 centuries, it’s only natural to learn from the best technique. In the late period, the Ottoman Empire (and Italy) was the architecture superpower of the world, no questions. No need for a PhD, one just needs to visit Istanbul, Edirne, etc. Mimar Sinan was the greatest architect in the world.
Yes definitely, but the 1500s and Suleiman the Magnificent are still very much inside AoE4 timeframe… Topkapi was by far the grandest palace in the world, even more than Versailles which came centuries later! How can Age of Empires not have the grandest palace of the greatest Empire?
Yes again, but that expansion all happened very much within AoE4 time. The simple fact is the Grand Bazaar is by far the largest and oldest still-operating mega mall on Earth, even if Persia had even older ones. If anything ever deserved “legendary” and “gigantic”, this would be it.
I agree Seljuks are very important and should be fully represented in AoE4 yes, but we don’t agree about everything. The years 1350-1650 are the decisive period in Age of Empires 4 (ir goes further than AoE2), and during this period, the Ottoman Empire was the #1 foremost power in the world overall, with absurdly high military win rate and Earth-shaking innovations. Even if that image of fabulous wealth, luxury and splendor only came after ~1500. Ages in AoE game are never equal fractions of linear time. Seljuks fit better in late Age 2 to early Age 3, Ottomans in late Age 3 and all of Age 4. That’s why the big in-game transition from nomadic civ to settled civ should be from Age 2 to Age 3 in my view. Sipahis come in Age 2-3, Janissaries come in late Age 3, Great Bombards in Age 4.
These are amazing authentic Seljuk architecture for Ages 2 and 3 yes. Thank you so much for this contribution man.
Totally agreed! Alp Arslan is one of the greatest all-time badasses. Posting some of his unforgettable quotes below…