Pontic Greek genocide
However, from the start of the Ottoman Empire (1299-1922), the Pontic Greeks were not equal to the rest of the population because they were a Christian minority in a Muslim Empire. Many Christian Greeks had better education and a higher economic position in the empire. This made many Muslims angry. Religion was a sign of loyalty in the Ottoman Empire. But most Pontics did not want to change their religion to Islam. That is why they were seen as a danger to the empire.