After the word spread about the wealthy patrons in Italy, many artists, inventors, and those of the like with excellent talent, started traveling to Italy from other parts of Europe in hopes of being sponsored by one of these patrons. A competition between the wealthy patrons of different families soon began: Who could commission the greatest books, inventions, artworks, or inventions. While these patrons commissioned these talented artists and inventors in order to bring their city great repute, the families also wanted to be remembered in history as having the greatest talent under their commission.