Answer :
Final answer:
The Balkan Peninsula (C) is the territory that was consistently a part of the Byzantine Empire. While the empire’s boundaries fluctuated, the Balkans remained a core region under Byzantine control throughout its history, so the correct option is (c).
Explanation:
The territory that was always part of the Byzantine Empire is the Balkan Peninsula (C). This area remained an integral region of Byzantine control throughout the duration of the empire. The Byzantine Empire, often referred to as the continuation of the Roman Empire, constituted various regions at different times in history. Under Emperor Justinian I, the empire experienced a period of reconquest and expansion, achieving its greatest territorial extent during his reign, reaching into the Italian and Iberian peninsulas, and parts of North Africa. However, these conquests were not enduring.
Following the rise of Islamic armies in the seventh century, Byzantine control was significantly reduced. Territories such as Egypt, North Africa, and the Levant were lost and never fully reclaimed. Notably, the empire also contracted due to pressures from Western and Eastern European adversaries. Nonetheless, during these turbulent times, the Balkan Peninsula consistently remained under Byzantine control. It served as a vital core as the empire restructured and reinforced its borders. Despite various challenges and territorial losses, the Byzantine Empire persisted predominantly across the Balkans and Anatolia, with a Greek-speaking 'Roman' populace until its eventual decline.
In contrast, parts of the Italian peninsula (A), Frankish territory (B), parts of the Iberian peninsula (D), and the Arabian peninsula (E) were not constantly under Byzantine rule; they were either briefly held or completely lost to the empire through the centuries. The persistence of control over the Balkan Peninsula was an aspect of the Byzantine Empire's resilience and strategic focus on maintaining a more manageable and defensible territory.
