Don't forget the church - much maligned and typecast as the anti progress vilain of the piece - they initiated the whole process of exploring the wonder of Gods Universe that paved the way for people like Galileo.

It backfired on them of course as instead of bolstering their power it ended up undermining it, but they nonetheless got the ball rolling, in philosophy, music and science.

Of course in those days there was no divide between science art and philosophy as is evidenced by Da Vinci.

But to focus my ramblings a bit better lets just remind ourselves that "rennaissance" means rebirth in french.

Rebirth of what? - old knowledge.

How? - academic study of ancient texts.

Where? - monasteries.

why? - in attempt to explore, expose and glorify the greatness of creation and consequently, God.