Which statements accurately describe why the Renaissance began in Italy? Choose all answers that are correct.
a. Arab traders sold ancient Greek manuscripts in Italy in return for classic works of Roman art.
b. Italian city-states often competed with each other to attract the best artists, poets, and philosophers.
c. Italy's connection to classical Rome had never died out because of the presence of Roman ruins throughout the peninsula.
d. Italian city-states were isolated from the rest of Europe which protected them from crises elsewhere.