The author, David Banks, from Carnegie Mellon University, highlights the lack of attention given to the question of why certain periods and places in history are more productive than others. He mentions that the topic has only been addressed directly in a few articles and books, but argues that it has significant implications for education, politics, science, and art. The author discusses the presence of clusters of geniuses in specific societies, such as Athens, Florence, and London, and questions why this occurs. He dismisses some previous theories and suggests factors such as prosperity, peace, freedom, social mobility, paradigm shifts, military victories, social interaction, and individualized education as potential explanations. The author also mentions the need for further research in this area.
https://www.visakanv.com/archives/2021/02/14/the-problem-of-excess-genius-by-david-banks-1997/