I'm kind of perplex but can understand why it's really hard for European people to admit that Renaissance in Europe has much to do with two concurrent Muslim Empires (Spain and Abbasid) rather than the remote Mongols. Also talking about Columbus discovery of America, I'd not be surprise if in the later years people found out that there were some of the crews are the force converted Jews and Muslim onboard based on Alhambra Decree that's being introduced exactly in the same year as the journey happened. The necessary technology for sustained shipping and navigation definitely from the Muslim Empire that preceeded the event.

Some fun facts, Muslim Empires also strecthed to the Italian Sicily Island (ultra Pharum) who ruled for few hundred years before it's later conquered by the Normans, who then later conquered the Britain [1]. Obviously this southern Italian empire is very much cosmopolitan not unlike the old day of Constantinople/Instanbul and modern day New York with probably the best hospitals in town [2].

If I want to guess this is the time Italian Renaissance started because of the superior way of life is happening right at their doorstep with a thriving community basically different in their mentality, religion, culture and lifestyle.

[1]Muslim conquest of Sicily:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muslim_conquest_of_Sicily

[2]Schola Medica Salernitana:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schola_Medica_Salernitana