Question

Which of the following was a distinguishing feature of the Ottoman Empire?

a. It was a substantial Islamic state on the African frontier of an expanding Islamic world...
b. It ruled over a largely non-Muslim population made up mostly of Hindus.
c. It imposed a Shia version of Islam as the official religion of the state.
d. Its rulers considered themselves rightful successors to the earlier Abbasid Empire.

Answer 1

The Ottoman Empire's rulers considered themselves the rightful successors to the Abbasid Empire, governing a diverse population including many non-Muslims, and controlled key territories in Europe, Africa, and Asia.

Step-by-step explanation:

Among the distinguishing features of the Ottoman Empire, its rulers considered themselves the rightful successors to the earlier Abbasid Empire. The Ottomans were a Turkish dynasty founded by Othman I in the 14th century, who embraced their role as a caliphate after conquering Constantinople in 1453 and establishing the city, rechristened as Istanbul, as their capital.

Throughout its history, the Ottoman Empire governed a diverse populace, including a significant number of non-Muslims, through a system known as the millet system, allowing various religious communities to self-govern under their laws.

This pluralism and the Ottoman claim to the caliphate, coupled with their control over key territories such as the Balkans, Egypt, and parts of Europe, Africa, and Asia, helped differentiate it from other Islamic states, and definitely did not impose a Shia version of Islam nor did it mostly govern over Hindus.