Which three empires continued after the unified Muslim state broke up?

• A. Abbasids, Rashidun, Umayyads
• B. Ottomans, Safavids, Mughals
• C. Seljuks, Ayyubids, Mamluks
• D. Fatimids, Umayyads, Fatimids

Answer: (B)

After the unified Muslim state broke up, regional powers continued, but three empires stood out for their lasting reach and influence: the Ottoman Empire, the Safavid Empire, and the Mughal Empire. The Ottomans built a vast realm across Anatolia, the Balkans, the Middle East, and North Africa, lasting for many centuries. The Safavids established a centralized Persian state in Iran and spread Shiʻa Islam as a unifying identity across their lands. The Mughals ruled large parts of the Indian subcontinent, shaping culture, religion, and governance for generations. Together, these three empires exemplify the major, enduring powers that followed the fragmentation of the earlier unified caliphate.

The other options mix early caliphates or regional dynasties that did not form the same enduring, wide-reaching triad.