Middle Ages Regents Practice Exam 2025 - Free Regents Practice Questions and Study Guide

The Byzantine Empire is most closely associated with preserving Greek and Roman culture due to its direct lineage from the Roman Empire and its role as a protector and steward of classical knowledge and traditions. After the fall of the Western Roman Empire in the 5th century, the Eastern Roman Empire, known as the Byzantine Empire, continued to thrive for nearly a thousand years. It became a center for art, architecture, and education, keeping alive classic texts, philosophy, and scientific knowledge that might have otherwise been lost.

The Byzantines not only preserved ancient Greek and Roman works but also contributed to the scholarship that interpreted and copied these texts. This cultural stewardship laid the groundwork for the Renaissance in Western Europe, where many of these preserved works re-emerged and influenced art, philosophy, and science.

Other empires listed, such as the Persian Empire, Mughal Empire, and British Empire, have their own cultural legacies, but they were not primarily focused on the preservation of Greek and Roman culture in the same way the Byzantine Empire was.