I would say that the Renaissance Era broke the static concentration of wealth which was in the hands of the Church and landowning nobility during the Medieval times. The Renaissance saw an increased activity of merchants and also nobles who invested their money in art and trade. The availability of money and demand for trade items started an interest in sailing which was brought to a higher level by the Portuguese in the 15th and 16th century. As European society grew more and more interested in gold and spices the need for world travel and access to Africa, the Americas, and South Sea caused a full European exploration effort.