Final answer:
The empire founded by a religious leader in Azerbaijan, where Shah Ismail became the ruler in 1501, is the Safavid Empire.
Step-by-step explanation:
The empire founded by a religious leader in Azerbaijan where Shah Ismail became the ruler of Persia in 1501 is the Safavid Empire. Shah Ismail I claimed to be the Mahdi, rallying the Qizilbash troops to establish control, and by 1511, he secured the eastern borders of modern Iran and challenged the Ottoman Empire for territory. The Safavids were known for introducing Shi'ism as the state religion in a region that was predominantly Sunni, and under Shah Abbas the Great, the empire experienced significant cultural and military growth.