Mark each statement that correctly describes the political and religious conflicts between the Ottoman and Safavid empires.

Question

Choose all answers that are correct.

Responses

The Ottomans belonged to the Sunni branch of Islam. The Safavids were Shi'ites and persecuted the Sunnis in their empire.

The Ottomans belonged to the Sunni branch of Islam. The Safavids were Shi'ites and persecuted the Sunnis in their empire.

The two empires experienced little conflict despite their close proximity to one another.

The two empires experienced little conflict despite their close proximity to one another.

The Ottomans and Safavids were often at war as they attempted to add territory to their empires.

The Ottomans and Safavids were often at war as they attempted to add territory to their empires.

Each empire attempted to convert the other to Christianity and persecuted their Muslim subjects.

Answer 1

The correct statements that describe the political and religious conflicts between the Ottoman and Safavid empires are:

1. The Ottomans belonged to the Sunni branch of Islam. The Safavids were Shi'ites and persecuted the Sunnis in their empire.

2. The Ottomans and Safavids were often at war as they attempted to add territory to their empires.

The other statements are not accurate:

• The two empires experienced significant conflict due to their differing sects of Islam (Sunni vs. Shi'ite) and their expansionist goals.
• There is no substantial evidence that each empire attempted to convert the other to Christianity; both were Islamic empires.