Article by Lily Johnson.

Note in particular point 3: ‘Its city-states allowed art and new ideas to flourish’

Quote: ‘The Medici family had a huge hand in the explosion of arts and culture that occurred in their city, leading Florence to be widely considered the home of the Renaissance itself. Founding the eminent Medici Bank in 1397, the family became valuable patrons to some of the country’s greatest artists.’

That’s just a few decades after the Black Death, which made individuals (those who had survived) much more valuable, thus starting ‘individualism’.

BTW here’s the AI answer:

The Renaissance began in Italy primarily due to the region’s unprecedented wealth from Mediterranean trade, its direct physical connection to the legacy of Ancient Rome, and a competitive political structure of independent city-states.

• Economic Prosperity: Italy’s strategic location made it a hub for commerce with Asia and the Byzantine Empire, creating a wealthy merchant class capable of funding the arts.
• Classical Heritage: As the heart of the former Roman Empire, Italy was filled with ancient ruins and texts, sparking a revival of classical ideals known as humanism.
• Political Competition: Independent city-states like Florence, Venice, and Rome fiercely competed for prestige, while powerful families like the Medici and the Vatican acted as major patrons of artists and scholars.
• Intellectual Influx: The fall of Constantinople in 1453 brought Greek scholars and classical manuscripts to Italy, further accelerating intellectual and artistic innovation.