What key changes took place during the Renaissance period?
What was the Renaissance?
The Renaissance was a period of European cultural, artistic, political and economic “rebirth”
following the Middle Ages. Generally described as taking place from the 14th century to the 17th
century, the Renaissance promoted the rediscovery of classical philosophy, literature and art. Some
of the greatest thinkers, authors, statesmen, scientists and artists in human history thrived during
this era, while global exploration opened up new lands and cultures to European commerce. The
Renaissance is credited with bridging the gap between the Middle Ages and modern-day civilization.
During the Middle Ages, a period that took place between the fall of ancient Rome in 476 A.D. and
the beginning of the 14th century, Europeans made few advances in science and art. Also known as
the “Dark Ages,” the era is often branded as a time of war, ignorance, famine and pandemics such as
the Black Death. Some historians, however, believe that such grim depictions of the Middle Ages
were greatly exaggerated, though many agree that there was relatively little regard for ancient
Greek and Roman philosophies and learning at the time.
How did it start and develop?
During the 14th century, a cultural movement called humanism began to gain momentum in Italy.
Among its many principles, humanism promoted the idea that man was the centre of his own
universe, and people should embrace human achievements in education, classical arts, literature
and science.
In 1450, the invention of the Gutenberg printing press allowed for improved communication
throughout Europe and for ideas to spread more quickly. As a result of this advance in
communication, little-known texts from early humanist authors were printed and distributed to the
masses.
The Renaissance started in Florence, Italy, a place with a rich cultural history where wealthy citizens
could afford to support budding artists. Members of the powerful Medici family, which ruled
Florence for more than 60 years, were famous backers of the movement. The movement first
expanded to other Italian city-states, such as Venice, Milan, Bologna, Ferrara and Rome. Then,
during the 15th century, Renaissance ideas spread from Italy to France and then throughout western
and northern Europe.
Who was involved?
Some of the most famous Renaissance intellectuals, artists, scientists and writers include the likes of:
Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519): Italian painter, architect, inventor, and “Renaissance man”
responsible for painting “The Mona Lisa” and “The Last Supper.”
Galileo (1564-1642): Italian astronomer, physicist and engineer whose pioneering work with
telescopes enabled him to describes the moons of Jupiter and rings of Saturn.
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