The beauty and craftsmanship of Islamic art has been appreciated in the West for centuries. In the Middle Ages, for example, textiles and decorative arts from the Middle East were prized additions to the treasuries of churches. With the rise of the Ottoman Empire and the development of the world economic system, the products of the flourishing Ottoman crafts industries created demand worldwide. As a result, much of the Ottoman art that has come down to us today was originally produced for export. The image of the Ottoman Empire as a land of wealth and luxury derives largely from such artworks obtained through a network of bazaars and hans.