Final answer:
Historians have a limited understanding of Josquin des Prez's biography, relying on the context of the time, such as the increasing demand for music, to infer his compositional impact and development.
Step-by-step explanation:
Historians have gathered limited information about the biography of Josquin des Prez, a prominent composer of the Renaissance. The available details about Josquin's life include his work in various courts and chapels across Europe, which influenced his compositional style and development. His presence in Italy, particularly, allowed him to absorb northern influences and contribute to the music culture there, which became especially rich by the end of the sixteenth century with Venice and Rome as centers of musical activity.
However, due to the scarcity of records, much of Josquin's life and the full extent of his compositional development remain unclear. This lack of comprehensive biographical detail makes it challenging to fully understand how his personal experiences shaped his work. Historians rely on the contextual backdrop of the increasing demand for music and the musical innovations during his time, like the unification of polyphonic practices, to speculate about his contributions to music and its development.