PART A: Which of the following best describes a central idea of the text? A The Byzantine Empire was a relatively modern, efficient, peaceful state that a left a legacy of cultural wealth and diversity, which impacted the region for centuries. B The fall of the Byzantine Empire is mainly due to the split with and lack of support from the Western Roman Empire and the upheaval in the region. C The Byzantine Empire expanded more quickly that it could control and eventually grew so large and so corrupt that it collapsed under the weight of its own empire because the leaders were unable to control it efficiently. D Constantinople thrived during the period of the Crusades because it brought western Europeans and their culture through the city and passed it along to many other places in the world through trade.