Question

Which of the following best describes how the Persians' treatment of the Armenians compared to the Mughals' relations with the Hindu population of India?

1) Shah Abbas wished to use Armenian trade connections to expand trade opportunities for the empire, while the Mughals wished to abolish traditional Indian trade networks.
2) Shah Abbas welcomed the Christian Armenians into separate communities to take advantage of their trade alliances, while the Mughals worked to create a blended culture.
3) Shah Abbas wished to resettle Christian religious minorities around the empire to keep them from overtaking the Islamic religion, while the Mughals encouraged mixing different religions.
4) Shah Abbas resettled Armenian prisoners of war in hopes of expanding the empire's dwindling population, while the Mughals used Hindu laborers to expand the production of crops for export.

Answer 1

Shah Abbas welcomed Armenians for their trade prowess, unlike the Mughals who discouraged non-Islamic practices under Aurangzeb.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question pertains to how Shah Abbas of the Safavid Empire treated the Armenian Christians compared to how the Mughals treated the Hindu population in India. Shah Abbas welcomed Armenian Christians into his capital, Isfahan, to take advantage of their specialized silk trade, demonstrating tolerance and a strategic economic approach.

In contrast, during Aurangzeb's reign, the Mughals prioritized Islamic culture, discouraging non-Islamic practices, and focused on religious uniformity rather than encouraging a blended culture.

The assessments of the Persians' treatment of Armenians and the Mughals' relations with Hindus illustrate different approaches to religious and cultural diversity within these empires.