The Renaissance is generally believed to have started in Italy during the 14th century, particularly in the city of Florence. The origins can be traced back to the early 1300s, around 1350 to 1400, with key cultural figures like Dante Alighieri and Francesco Petrarch playing important roles in reviving interest in ancient Greek and Roman culture. The period reached its height in Italy between the 1490s and the 1520s, often referred to as the High Renaissance. The Renaissance as a unified historical period ended in Italy around 1527 with the fall of Rome, but its influence persisted throughout Europe beyond that time.