What was an effect of the following events?

Trade between Europe and Asia increased, and Italian cities became centers for banking, commerce and industry
Byzantine scholars fled from the Ottoman Turks to Italy; they had preserved Greek and Roman texts & ideas
Wealthy Italian merchants and nobles acted as patrons – people who supported artists, writers and scholars

a) The Fall of the Ottoman Empire began.

b) Florence, Italy became the birthplace of the Renaissance.

c) The Mongols closed the Silk Road to prevent Persians from using it.

d) Constantinople became the birthplace of the Renaissance.

The events described, including increased trade between Europe and Asia, the influx of Byzantine scholars to Italy, and the support of wealthy Italian patrons, contributed to the cultural and intellectual revival known as the Renaissance. Florence, Italy, in particular, became a major center for this movement, marked by a renewed interest in art, literature, and classical learning. The exchange of ideas, the rediscovery of Greek and Roman texts, and the patronage of the arts by wealthy individuals were key factors in the flourishing of the Renaissance in Italy. The other options do not accurately reflect the historical context and outcomes associated with these events.