Final answer:
The Ottomans saw their military conquests, cultural patronage, and religious fervor as evidence of their monopoly on truth and culture, bolstered by their empire's diversity and strategic significance.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Ottomans viewed their conquests and the flourishing of their empire as evidence of their possession of the monopoly on truth, enlightenment, and culture. They were seen as successors to previous Islamic caliphates and empires, upholding and spreading Sunni Islam through their military conquests and cultural patronage. They valued the religious duty of ghazis, or warriors for Islam, and saw the expansion and defense of Islamic lands as a confirmation of their divine favor and the correctness of their beliefs. The incorporation of various cultures and knowledge systems, especially from the Persians, into the Ottoman Empire, along with the patronage of arts, literature, and science, further bolstered their sense of cultural superiority and enlightenment, as seen in the development of Turkish Persianate culture and the Ottoman state's investments in mosques, madrasas, and scientific studies.
The Ottoman Empire at its peak was considered a cosmopolitan society with diverse ethnicities, languages, and religions, and the sultans were patrons of science and culture. The belief in their supremacy was reinforced by their military advancements, the strategic importance of their capital, Istanbul, and their educational system which incorporated advances from diverse cultures including Persian and European influences. These factors combined to make the Ottomans see themselves as the bearers of truth and refined culture.