Question

Which of the following effects of the decline and fall of the Byzantine Empire was not a factor leading to the Italian Renaissance?

a)The loss of control over parts of the Italian peninsula allowed independent city-states to prosper
b)The Ottoman Empire stabilized trade in the Mediterranean by eliminating the threat of piracy
c)The fall of Constantinople to the Turks severed land-based trade routes between Europe and Asia
D)The fall of the Byzantine Empire marked the end of the feudal system and the rise of two new social classes

Answer 1

The correct answer here would be A - the loss of control over parts of the Italian peninsula allowed independent city-states to prosper.

While this looks a reasonable answer at first, the reason why it didn't contribute towards the renaissance was that the Byzantine Empire was not in control of them when it was falling apart in any case anyway.