What effect on the practice of religion did the settlement shown on the map have in Europe?

The correct answer highlights how the settlement referred to in the context impacted the control over religion within the Holy Roman Empire. The settlement allowed princes, bishops, and other local leaders significant authority over religious matters, meaning they could decide the official religion of their territories. This was a notable shift from broader centralized ecclesiastical authority, allowing local political leaders to determine which religious practices would dominate within their jurisdictions.

This set the stage for a patchwork of religious affiliations and policies across the empire, as different local rulers could choose between Catholicism and Protestantism based on their preferences or political calculations. It significantly affected the religious landscape of the Holy Roman Empire and established a precedent for the principle of cuius regio, eius religio, which meant the ruler's religion would be the religion of the ruled.

The other options are less relevant to the specific effects of this settlement. For instance, the assertion about the Habsburg rulers restoring Catholicism implies a centralized resurgence, which contradicts the established localized control. The notion of religious tolerance for Muslims does not align with the historical context of the settlement's focus on Christian denominations. Lastly, granting freedom of conscience to Eastern Orthodox believers does not reflect the central issue regarding the authority granted to local leaders and their control over religious