Final answer:
Islam is the religion that shaped the Ottoman Empire's governance and society. Founded by the Turks, the empire espoused Islam and used the dhimmi system to manage its diverse subjects, with Constantinople serving as a crucial imperial capital.Option C is the correct answer.
Step-by-step explanation:
The religion that played a central role in shaping the political, social, and economic structure of the Ottoman Empire is c) Islam. The Ottoman Empire was founded and ruled by Turks who were Muslims. They regarded their state as a caliphate, evident from the Ottoman Caliphate that spanned from 1517 to 1924. Although the empire encompassed many diverse religions, Islam was the predominant faith and it influenced the governance, legal systems, and cultural practices within the empire. The empire's capital was Constantinople, a historically significant center for trade between the Silk Roads and Europe, and its rulers maintained the Islamic faith while ruling over a large and culturally diverse population. The dhimmi system within Islam allowed non-Muslims, known as dhimmis, certain protections but also imposed restrictions and taxes like the jizya.
Islam played a pivotal role in shaping the Ottoman Empire's political, social, and economic structure. Established and led by Muslim Turks, the Ottomans considered their state a caliphate, evident in the Ottoman Caliphate from 1517 to 1924. Despite religious diversity within the empire, Islam dominated, influencing governance, legal systems, and cultural practices. With Constantinople as its capital, the Ottomans, devout Muslims, ruled over a diverse population. The dhimmi system provided protection but imposed restrictions and the jizya tax on non-Muslims. Rooted in Islamic principles, the Ottoman Empire's identity and institutions were deeply intertwined with the tenets of the Islamic faith.