The correct answer is:
a. the weakness of the Ottoman navy
The Battle of Lepanto, fought on October 7, 1571, was a significant naval engagement between the Holy League, a coalition of Christian states, and the Ottoman Empire. The outcome was influenced by the weaknesses of the Ottoman navy, which suffered from issues such as poor leadership, inadequate fleet organization, and a lack of sufficient training compared to their opponents. While the Ottomans had a large number of ships, the effectiveness of the navy was compromised by these weaknesses.