Final answer:
The best description of religious persecution in the 1500s and 1600s is that it was widespread, involving Catholics, Protestants, Jews, and Muslims. This era was marked by the Protestant Reformation and the Spanish Inquisition, leading to forced conversions, expulsions, and massacres like the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that best describes the religious persecution of the 1500s and 1600s is that 'persecution was widespread.' During this time, Europe experienced significant turmoil due to religious conflicts, most notably the Protestant Reformation which began in 1517. This period saw Catholics and Protestants persecuting each other, while Jews and Muslims also faced forced conversions, expulsions, and violence at the hands of Christian majorities.
The Spanish Inquisition sought to enforce Catholic orthodoxy and persecuted those who did not conform. Events like the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre in 1572, where French Catholic troops and mobs killed thousands of French Protestants, typify the extreme religious violence of the era.
Jews faced longstanding persecution and were often depicted as outsiders. They were blamed for different societal problems, and their precarious position was exacerbated by events such as being forced to convert or leave Spain in 1492, along with Muslims.