The Safavids drew the ire of Islamic empires such as the Ottoman and the Mughal Empires primarily because the Safavids

(A) were an expansionist empire geographically located between two other expansionists (B) rejected the central tenets of Islam (C) enslaved Christians, and turned them into Safavid fighters (D) Ismail proclaimed himself to be a CaliphExplanation: The Safavids were located in Persia, smack dab between the Mughal Empire (India) and the Ottoman Empire (Eastern Europe, Northern Africa, and the Levant). This idea matches (A). The Safavids were devout Muslims, so eliminate (B). Choice (C) is incorrect, as it describes a practice utilized by the Ottoman Empire. Choice (D) does not make sense, as Shi’a Muslims would never proclaim there to be a caliph who was not appointed by God from Muhammad’s direct family lineage. Selim, by contrast, was named caliph under the Sunni tradition.