Most
historians consider the city-states of Northern Italy, particularly Florence, to be the
birthplace of the European Renaissance. A number of things all came together in this region at
about the same time to lead to a rebirth in learning and classical culture.
One of the main contributing factors was the growth of trade and commerce. New trade
routes around the Mediterranean and beyond meant that more wealth was available to merchants and
bankers to spend on the arts and to dedicate time to scholarly pursuits. Wealthy families such
as the Medicis spent vast sums of money as patrons of the arts. Traders also were exposed to new
ideas as they traveled along their trade routes. They learned about different philosophies,
technologies, and scientific ideas which they brought back home with them.
Another cause of the Renaissance was the end of the Crusades. For centuries the Arabs had been
custodians of Classical...
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