Which of the following was a result of the conflict between the Byzantine Empire and the Arab Muslims?
a. the Arab threat to the Byzantine Empire was permanently removed
b. the Byzantines made an alliance with Kievan Rus, which led to greater cooperation between the two empires
c. the commercial significance of Constantinople was destroyed by the 8th century, forcing the Byzantine Empire to depend increasingly on trade with the West
d. the Byzantine Empire was able to recover the provinces of Syria and Egypt, thus regaining valuable agricultural land and increased wealth
e. the position of small farmers in the empire was weakened as a result of heavy taxation, resulting in greater aristocratic estates
Answer: E