This passage provides a brief introduction to the Renaissance period in Europe between the 14th and 16th centuries. It discusses some of the key artistic works and figures of the time, including the Mona Lisa painting by Leonardo da Vinci. Leonardo is highlighted as an extraordinary Renaissance figure who made contributions not just as a painter but also as a skilled scientific inventor. The passage attributes the beginning of the Renaissance to three main factors: growing wealth in Europe, the rediscovery of ideas from ancient Greece and Rome, and a new philosophical sense of exploration.