Right, I have a challenge for you all. How can you make the Renaissance occur earlier than in OTL, and/or have it occur faster?
This also ties into a question of what caused the Renaissance. According to some, it was because of a particular combination of social and economic factors in Florence, Italy, that kickstarted the Renaissance there, and it spread to the rest of Italy and from there to other parts of Europe.
However, another theory is that the Renaissance was caused by the Black Death, because it freed up capital, improved the economic power of the lower classes etc.
Which if these is generally considered the more important factor, or are they roughly equal? Would it be possible for a *Renaissance to ccur without the Black Death, in some other location? If not, is it plausible to have an earlier plague to provide the conditions?
I'm asking this because I'm writing a timeline where I'd like an earlier Renaissance to occur, in a different location. I can give this location all the qualities Florence had, and a few more besides, but it won't have the plague, and I want to know if it will still be possible.
So anyone have any ideas?
This also ties into a question of what caused the Renaissance. According to some, it was because of a particular combination of social and economic factors in Florence, Italy, that kickstarted the Renaissance there, and it spread to the rest of Italy and from there to other parts of Europe.
However, another theory is that the Renaissance was caused by the Black Death, because it freed up capital, improved the economic power of the lower classes etc.
Which if these is generally considered the more important factor, or are they roughly equal? Would it be possible for a *Renaissance to ccur without the Black Death, in some other location? If not, is it plausible to have an earlier plague to provide the conditions?
I'm asking this because I'm writing a timeline where I'd like an earlier Renaissance to occur, in a different location. I can give this location all the qualities Florence had, and a few more besides, but it won't have the plague, and I want to know if it will still be possible.
So anyone have any ideas?