a deaf man named Thomas Tillseye in 1575. Descendants of British Sign Language have been used by deaf communities (or at least in classrooms) in former British colonies India, Australia, New Zealand, Uganda and South Africa, as well as the republics and provinces of the former Yugoslavia, Grand Cayman Island in the Caribbean, Indonesia, Norway, and Germany. Between 1500 and 1700, it seems that members of the Turkish Ottoman court were using a form of signed communication. Many sought-after servants were deaf, as, some argue, they were seen as more quiet and trustworthy. Many diplomats and other hearing members of the court, however, also learned and communicated amongst one another through this signing system, which was passed down through the deaf members of the court. In France, Old French Sign Language Paris was home to a small deaf community that signed among themselves. This was referenced by l'Abbé Charles Michel de l'Épée who created the first school for the deaf in Paris in the 18th century. He defined his own manual alphabet and synthesized signs with French grammar. With consistent use among the community these two sources evolved into the French Sign Language. American Sign Language is heavily based on French Sign Language due to the presence of teachers from France in the first American schools for the deaf. Some sign languages are known to have developed spontaneously in small communities with a high number of deaf members. Martha's Vineyard, an island in Massachusetts, USA was settled by people carrying a gene causing deafness in the late 17th century. Limited outside contact and high inter-marriage on the island led to a high density of deaf individuals on the island, peaking around 1840. This environment proved ideal for the development of what is today known as Martha's Vineyard Sign Language, which was used by hearing and deaf islanders alike until increased mixing with the outside world reduced the incidence of deafness on the island. They created a sign language that had specific signs relevant to that area, such as native types of fish and berries. Almost all of the school-aged population became students at ASD, which led to mutual influence of American Sign Language and Martha's Vineyard Sign Language on each other. Other examples include: Al-Sayyid Bedouin Sign Language, Israel Kata Kolok, Bali Adamorobe Sign Language, Ghana Yucatec Maya Sign Language, Mexico Perception of sign language through history In Europe Aristotle