What were the conditions that promoted cultural and scientific achievement?

1. Toleration of non-theological speculation about nature; tho not stridently atheistic or monolithic.

2. A civic tradition of public discussion of issues; not autocracy

3. Some cathartic event the changed challenged the status quo.

4. Common language (Greek, then Latin)

5. Prosperity tho not necessarily political stability;

6. Mobility/trade

· as venue for exchanging ideas;

· commercial prosperity, etc. generated a new class of citizens (whose wealth was commercial, not landed),

· demand for better tools of accounting, for measuring, for more education;

· allowed for movement of scholars