There were several reasons for the decline including: invasions, increased 1. taxes, political instability
Why would they say that

“the iliad” (gr: “iliás”) is an epic poem by the ancient greek poet homer, which recounts some of the significant events of the final weeks of the trojan war and the greek siege of the city of troy (which was also known as ilion, ilios or ilium in ancient times).

i think the answer's are a) b) and c)

the exodus of these people from constantinople contributed to the revival of greek and roman studies, which led to the development of the renaissance in humanism and science. byzantine emigrants also brought to western europe the better preserved and accumulated knowledge of their own greek civilization