Final answer:
An increase in trade during the Renaissance led to an A. increase in power of kings in Europe.
Step-by-step explanation:
An increase in trade during the Renaissance brought about a political change in Europe. It led to an increase in power of kings, giving them more control over the governments of the Italian city-states. This was because the merchants, who grew wealthy from trade, gained political influence and supported the kings in order to protect their interests. As trade flourished, it led to the growth of wealthy merchant classes and the accumulation of capital.
Kings, seeking to benefit from this economic growth, began to centralize power by asserting control over trade routes and establishing monopolies. While the Renaissance period did see advancements in various political systems, such as the emergence of republican city-states in Italy, it was primarily the increase in trade that led to the rise of absolute monarchies and the concentration of power in the hands of kings