Final answer:
The primary difference between the Ottomans and the Safavids was religious orientation: the Ottomans were Sunni, and the Safavids were Shia, particularly of the Twelver sect. This distinction deeply influenced the political and military conflicts between the two empires and contributed to the long-lasting Sunni-Shia divide. The correct option is 1.
Step-by-step explanation:
A key difference between the Ottomans and the Safavids was in their religious affiliations within Islam. The Ottomans were Sunni Muslims, adhering to the majority branch of Islam, which recognized the caliphs as legitimate successors to Prophet Muhammad. In contrast, the Safavids were Shia Muslims, particularly of the Twelver school, which held that only a descendant of Prophet Muhammad through his cousin and son-in-law Ali could be a legitimate leader, called an Imam, of the Islamic community. This religious difference played a central role in the sectarian divide and conflicts between these two empires throughout their history.
The Sunni-Shia divide was not only a source of theological dispute but also drove geopolitical tensions and wars. The Safavid empire, founded by Shah Ismail I in 1501, became the bastion of Shi'ism, particularly after Ismail declared Twelver Shi'ism as the state religion to unify his subjects against the Sunni-dominated rivals, including the Ottomans. This religious policy was reinforced by Safavid leaders like Shah Abbas I, who also pursued a military and administrative strengthening of the empire, contributing to a cultural renaissance within Persia.