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Where have most of the Greek mathematical texts been found?

A) Ancient Libraries and Archives
B) Byzantine Manuscripts
C) Archaeological Sites and Temples
D) Private Collections and Tombs

User Rjz
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1 Answer

5 votes

Final answer:

Most Greek mathematical texts have been preserved in Byzantine Manuscripts (option B), with significant contributions from the Library of Alexandria. These documents were meticulously copied and safeguarded throughout the Byzantine period, playing a key role in the transmission of ancient Greek knowledge.

Step-by-step explanation:

Most of the Greek mathematical texts have been found in Byzantine Manuscripts. Ancient libraries and archives, like the renowned library in Alexandria, played a critical role in preserving a vast array of knowledge, including mathematical works. The Museon or Museum of Alexandria housed some 700,000 scrolls and was effectively the world's largest library of the time, also seen as the first research university in the Western world. Despite the eventual destruction of the Library of Alexandria, the legacy of the texts preserved and translated there lived on.

Moreover, during the Byzantine period, Greek was the dominant language within the Byzantine Empire, and many classical texts, including mathematical works, were preserved and copied in manuscripts. These texts were treasured and transmitted throughout the Middle Ages, and Byzantine scholars played a key role in their preservation. Following the fall of Constantinople and other upheavals, these texts were dispersed and found their way into various European libraries and private collections.

While archaeological sites and temples have provided insight into Greek architectural design and antiquities, and private collections and tombs have occasionally revealed hidden treasures, it is the manuscripts, particularly from the Byzantine era, that have been instrumental in conveying Greek mathematical knowledge to future generations.

User Smajlo
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