[wagglebee]

The Renaissance began in Florence, Italy and that was because a few banking families (most notably the Medicis) were making more money than they knew what to do with financing the spice and silk trade.

[Tax-chick]

There was a History Channel or A&E documentary about the Medicis that emphasized their role in the revival/reinvention of classical civilization. Really neat stuff.

[miss marmelstein]

I like your simple answer. Refreshing and probably true!