Final answer:
After the fall of Rome, classical knowledge was largely preserved in monasteries and in the Islamic world, setting the stage for the transfer of this knowledge back to Western Europe during the Italian Renaissance.
Step-by-step explanation:
The work of classical scholars, scientists, and philosophers during the Early Middle Ages was preserved in a limited fashion due to the decline of structured learning following the fall of the Roman Empire. Knowledge was maintained in Byzantium and other regions outside the former Western Roman Empire, such as the Islamic kingdoms, where scholars made significant advancements and preserved both classical and new knowledge. In Europe, preserved knowledge was concentrated within monasteries and eventually influenced the Italian Renaissance, as Byzantine scholars brought important texts to the West.
The period that followed the fall of Rome is often referred to as the "Dark Ages" because of the overall decline in education and literacy. However, during the 11th century, the rise of cathedral schools and later the establishing of universities signaled a shift of learning from monasteries to more urban centers. This was a precursor to the Renaissance period where there was a renewed interest in ancient texts and the emergence of humanism.