Answer:
The correct answer is A. Florence grew wealthy through banking.
Explanation:
The Florentine Republic existed from 1115 to 1531, it has been ruled by the Medici banking family since 1434, most of whom had a keen interest in painting, sculpture, architecture and literature. Since the 15th century, Florence became an important financial center, partly thanks to the Medici. The importance of Florence as a trading city is evidenced by the fact that the local currency, the Golden Florin, borrowed its name from many other coins, such as the Hungarian forint and the Dutch guilder. The bankers largely financed medieval European trade and industry and the mercenary armies of the kings. Through marriages to the European aristocracy, descendants of the Medici were king or queen of France, Scotland and Spain, among others, and also supplied various popes. The Medici ruled from the 15th century to 1737 when the last powerful Medici died childless.
