Which statement would this passage best support? The town was a centre of attraction and diffusion, but above all it was a centre of production. The town was a crossroads and a terminus [Last stop]: through contacts meetings and exchanges it could play a major creative role... Towns were important in an emerging international economy. The culture of towns discouraged new ideas. Economic self-sufficiency was reinforced by the revival of towns. Crossroad locations limit the functions of towns.

The statement that this passage would best support is: Towns were important in an emerging international economy.