Answer:
c) He established Shi'a Islam as the state religion and persecuted other religious groups.
Step-by-step explanation:
Shah Esma'il was the founder of the Safavid Empire in Persia (modern-day Iran) in the 16th century. He was a devout adherent of the Shi'a branch of Islam and aimed to establish Shi'a Islam as the dominant faith in his empire.
As the ruler, Shah Esma'il made Shi'a Islam the official state religion and actively promoted its practices and teachings. He encouraged the conversion of his subjects to Shi'a Islam and built religious institutions such as mosques and madrasas to support and spread the faith.
However, Shah Esma'il's religious policies were not characterized by religious tolerance. He persecuted other religious groups, particularly Sunnis and followers of other non-Muslim faiths. He sought to suppress rival Islamic sects and forcefully convert or suppress them, leading to widespread religious conflicts and tensions during his rule.
Shah Esma'il's reign marked a period of intense religious fervor and sectarianism in Persia. His establishment of Shi'a Islam as the state religion and persecution of other religious groups played a significant role in shaping the religious landscape of the Safavid Empire and its subsequent history.
In summary, during the rule of Shah Esma'il, the role of religion was marked by the establishment of Shi'a Islam as the state religion and the persecution of other religious groups, making option c) the most accurate answer.