The status of Nestorian Christians in the Sasanian Empire exemplified which of the following?

a.

merging Christian and Zoroastrian beliefs

b.

the lack of political unity in the Sasanian Empire

c.

universalizing religious communities spreading across Asia along trade routes

d.

the Sasanian Empire's persecution of non-Zoroastrians

Answer: c. universalizing religious communities spreading across Asia along trade routes

Explanation:

Although Christianity was originally persecuted in Iran, it was made legal after 451, and Nestorian Christianity had become the prevailing Christian sect in the Sassanid Empire by 491.

Christians became self-governing of their inner religious and civil law proceedings, a status similar to the one achieved by the Jews.

Nestorian Christians were in charge of most of the empire's trade through central Asia and as far as China and India, and they adopted trade as an opportunity to develop their proselytizing efforts.

Here the right answer is:

c. universalizing religious communities spreading across Asia along trade routes.

Explanation:

The Sassanid Persian kings, who were constantly engaged in war with Byzantium, supported the Nestorian schism. They gave shelter to Nestorians in 462. Nestorianism expanded in Persia and even reached China in later centuries.