Skirmishing skills with general versatility, thrown weapons and polearms, and strong athletic talent are all strengths. Formidable heavy cavalry capable of competing with Swadia's knights and musketeers exist. The cannon have greatly improved their quality over time. The Sarranid Sultanate is renowned for its skilled artisans who work in gold and silver crafts. They also have a well-developed textile industry that includes silk production. Commerce is another area where they excel; they were among the first states to adopt western trading practices. In addition to these activities, the sultanates are also great builders who can be found building roads, bridges, and ports all over Asia. The empire has been described as one of the largest Muslim states in history. It was one of the earliest states to use gunpowder technology and had one of the first regular armies in the world. The sultanate lasted for more than 150 years (1244-1304) and covered much of present-day Iran, Iraq, and parts of Afghanistan. It was ruled by members of the Ottoman dynasty.