Which language was predominantly spoken in the Byzantine Empire?

The predominant language spoken in the Byzantine Empire was Greek. This is significant because, although Latin was the official language of the early Roman Empire and remained important in law and administration, Greek became the language of the elite and the common people in the provinces of the eastern part of the empire. By the time of the Byzantine Empire, particularly after the fall of the Western Roman Empire in the 5th century, Greek was firmly established in the eastern regions, especially in cities like Constantinople.

Greek was not only a means of daily communication but also the language of philosophy, science, and literature, which flourished during the Byzantine era. The cultural and administrative practices of the empire heavily utilized Greek, and many significant works of theology, law, and literature were composed in this language. After the 7th century, the use of Greek became even more prominent, as the connection to Roman heritage faded, and the Byzantine identity evolved.

The other options reflect languages that had different contexts or were not primarily used for daily communication in the Byzantine Empire. Latin, while still used in certain legal and formal contexts, did not play the central role that Greek did. Turkish became more influential much later, particularly after the Ottoman conquest, and Hebrew, while important in religious contexts