By the 15th century, Italians were turning increasingly to the classical past for inspiration. Artists began utilizing the abundance of new models and subject matter from this period, which had often been rejected throughout the Middle Ages because of its associations with paganism. Through acceptable allegorical readings of ancient Greek and Roman texts, artists and scholars adopted a new aesthetic understanding that emphasized the beauty of both the individual and the physical world. Because each Italian city had its own distinct history, the new artistic modes did not fall under a singular style but led to the emergence of a variety of traditions, which would influence artistic currents throughout the continent.