Hmmm<p>I am not so sure this is a fair comparison. One thing I think it lacks is patronage competitors (and thus competition).<p>The article seemed to indicate (unwillingly) that it was a unique combination of non-reproducible scenarios i.e. talent and talent scout. It&#x27;s not like there weren&#x27;t other places with other talent and patrons.<p>Also SV teaches us the exact opposite since it didn&#x27;t start with a city with lots of money and lots of patrons (they came over time)<p>I think a much more likely explanation is the same that spur many other sudden sparks excellence within a short time and geographic location and that is. Some sort of right combination of progress in a number of fields, the availability of money and a fairly progressive time in history in that area.<p>I.e. luck more than anything else. (Just like nation building btw)