While works of art made in the Middle Ages were characterized by death, despair, and religion, the humanist ideas of the Italian Renaissance changed the way artists depicted and considered their art. The Renaissance began in Italy and not elsewhere due to the increased wealth of the Italian city-states through trade along the Mediterranean Sea. All the money these city-states received brought a number of great artists from places like Venice and Florence. When considering all aspects of Renaissance humanism, art is considered to be the one most changed by humanist ideas. The mindset and beliefs of people in a given era change the way art was created and perceived, as evidenced by works of art made during the Renaissance. A large number of paintings created during the Italian Renaissance were portraits of monarchs, which show the impact of humanism on art. There were very few portraits made in the Middle Ages because they were not centered on humans and their values ​​but rather on religion. The idea of ​​humanism inspired Renaissance artists to create more realistic figures and pay more attention to detail and perspective. Art no longer focused solely on religion, but more on the abilities of humans and the values ​​they possessed. This change in style in art due to humanism changed the way people viewed their role in society because instead of looking at things blindly, they viewed art with a sense of pride in what humans were able to do.