Final answer:
The rise of the Ottoman Empire before 1300 influenced trade by controlling major trade routes and markets, leading to the exclusion of Italian merchants and pushing western Europeans to seek alternative routes.
Step-by-step explanation:
The rise of the Ottoman Empire before 1300 influenced trade as it controlled major trade routes and markets connecting to the Silk Road, such as Cairo and Baghdad. The Ottomans had control over the Red Sea ports in Egypt, giving them additional control over the spice trade. Their dominance in trade led to the exclusion of Italian merchants from their traditional routes and motivated western Europeans to seek alternative oceanic routes.