What was the primary cultural contribution of the Muslims during the Abbasid period?
a. Although the material culture of the Abbasid period remained poor, Muslims were able to make some advances in music.
b. The Muslims became extraordinarily adept at portraiture, focusing on depictions of Muhammad and the early caliphs.
c. The Muslims were able to recover and preserve the works of the ancient philosophers as well as transmit ideas and culture from one civilization to another.
d. Islamic culture combined the achievements of earlier civilizations such as the Harappan and the Aryans.
e. Islamic learning was necessarily unique, as they had no access to the ancient traditions of philosophy and science.
Answer: C