As the Middle Ages began to decline, a new era began to emerge. Inspired by the secularism and classics of ancient Rome and Greece, the Italian Renaissance was a cultural evolution that stimulated some of the world's finest arts, music, architecture, and literature. The Italian Renaissance was a wave of ideas and creativity that would define the modern world. Since the end of the Renaissance, scholars have been mystified by the root cause that led to such a great era. Although the origins of the Italian Renaissance vary in importance, all factors were connected to each other. The Black Death, a devastating disease that killed 1/3 of the population, led to a more open economy that increased wages and led people to lose faith in the Church. The notion of secularism and humanism, founded by Francesco Petrarca and other humanists, was born from the loss of faith and the invention of the printing press, which helped spread philosophies. Humanism became common among nobles, who wanted to advance themselves and their families through patronage of the classical arts, thus subsidizing the Italian Renaissance. In the mid-14th century, the Black Death claimed nearly 200 million victims across Europe. Despite the devastation, the deadly plague contributed in two ways to the birth of the Italian Renaissance (Wilde ¶7-8). Financially, the Black Death was a key factor in the Italian Renaissance. With nearly 200 million lives lost, “the poor survivors of the plague suddenly found themselves in a position of power” (Hodgman ¶11). The poor can not only demand better working conditions, but they can also demand higher wages. This allowed anyone to become richer. Also, food prices fell because there was less power, but those are beliefs. This became known as science. The scientific ideas of the Renaissance also dictate modern sciences. Patronage was fundamental to the financing of the Renaissance. The Italian Renaissance was the result of many events that linked to each other. Even the least expected events, such as the Black Death, contributed to the rise of the Renaissance. Its greatness has been admired since the end of the Renaissance. It stimulated fine arts and magnificent churches. New ideas arose and spread. It was a cultural evolution that defined the modern age. The Italian Renaissance is known throughout the world and will always be remembered. Because of its magnificence, it is difficult to believe that one of the main causes, humanism, was a mere idea. Listing all the factors of the Renaissance is impossible, however the main causes include the Black Death, humanism and patronage.