Question

Which of the following is an example of the blending of Byzantine and Ottoman culture following the rise of the Ottoman Turks?

The Ottomans encouraged Christians to continue practicing their faith in the conquered lands.

The Ottomans converted the Hagia Sophia church into a grand Mosque.

The Ottomans refused to make Islam the established religion for the Empire

The Ottoman Sultan was also made the head of the Orthodox Church.

Answer 1

Likely the second option, that the Ottomans converted the Hagia Sophia into a grand Mosque. They didn't destroy the huge church because they were incredibly impressed by its architecture.

The Ottomans didn't exactly encourage Christianity in their empire, only tolerated it, and even then levied a tax on non-Muslims to practice their faith. Islam was the official religion for their empire as well, there was no question of that, but the Ottoman sultan did not become the head of the Orthodox Church. Instead, Mehmed II sought to maintain stability by re-establishing the office of the patriarch at Constantinople to continue in their duties however limited they would be under the new regime in keeping Orthodox Christians in line with the new regime.