The Renaissance was a fervent period of European history both cultural, artistic, political life and economic revival after the Middle Ages . Generally described life 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 trade routes. The Renaissance is credited with narrowing the gap between the Middle Ages and modern civilization.
Why the Renaissance?
The Renaissance was a time of great learning and discovery and great reference for modern history. Its defining intellectual movement was humanism, which returned to the ancient Greek and Roman cultures. Renaissance architects and finest artists, such as Filippo Brunelleschi personal accounts, studied mathematics and built massive buildings. In addition to this, scientific discoveries made major shifts in how people thought about the world. Galileo and Descartes introduced new views of astronomy and mathematics, and Copernicus proposed that the Sun was at the center of the solar system. These new ideas led to an evolution in art, which was characterized by realism and naturalism. Various techniques were used to add depth and detail.
Humanism was a defining intellectual movement of the Renaissance
Humanism was a major intellectual movement in the Renaissance era that questioned many of the prevailing beliefs about man and the universe. This trend blossomed in all disciplines, from philosophy to art, and was largely rooted in Italy. The movement is credited with giving birth to the modern humanities.
Petrarch is considered the father of Humanism. The famous Italian poet devoted his life to the study of the works of classical Rome. He used Cicero and Vergil as models for his prose and poetry. His writings spread his ideas among other humanists, and helped create a new style of letter writing. One of his famous letters was written to Dionisio da Borgo San Sepolocro, a contemporary of Petrarch.
It was a return to ancient Greek and Roman culture
The Renaissance was a rebirth of classical ideas that began in the 14th century in the city states of Italy. Following the dark age and the Black Death, people in Europe began to live a more civilized life, and many people see the Renaissance as the beginning of modern world culture. Italian artists became tired of the darkness of medieval times and turned to the brighter times of the classical ages.
Artists of the Renaissance embraced classical ideals such as symmetry and harmony. The repopulation of Rome resulted in the discovery of many ancient works of art. They were able to learn from these works, some of which were in amazing condition. However, some of these works had been damaged through the centuries.
It was a non-warrior class
The Renaissance period of European history is famous for its artists, including Michelangelo, Raphael, and Donatello. However, it wasn't just artists who inhabited this time period. The Renaissance period also saw the development of new technology and scientific disciplines. It was during this time that a non-warrior class arose and became an essential part of high-class society.
It was a time of learning
During the Renaissance, people devoted themselves to learning and acquiring new knowledge. They embraced humanism and used it as a springboard to study ancient authors and theories. Their newfound knowledge of the humanities and humanistic values influenced their work, and they created new approaches to history, philology, and theology. They also cultivated their love of language, which they used to create new works of art.
The Renaissance was a time of learning and rebirth, which shaped European civilization. The period saw advances in science, art, philosophy, trade, and technology. It also provided the foundation for many aspects of modern culture, including the printing press.
It was a time of exploration
The Age of Exploration was a time when Europeans aimed to find new trade routes to the Far East. Traditionally, Europeans had traded with other countries along the Silk Road, but it took a long time for goods to travel. In an effort to speed up trade, European countries sought to find a quicker sea route. Since Europe was ruled by absolute monarchies, powerful monarchs were able to use their wealth to fund expeditions. King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain, for example, funded Christopher Columbus' voyage to the Far East.
The Age of Exploration had many aspects, but was most marked by the Age of Discovery. It saw the discovery of a new continent and opened Europe and italian peninsula to a world of possibilities. It also paved the way for globalization, interconnecting the world through new discoveries. The Renaissance period also saw an increase in debates over religious life and the role of the Roman Catholic Church.
It was a time of innovation
The Renaissance was a time of innovation and development that changed the way that people lived, worked, and thought in Europe. New forms of art, architecture, and technology were developed. During this time, people also faced a number of philosophical dilemmas. Religion was also a subject of debate and new versions of Christianity emerged. The Renaissance lasted from the 15th century to the 16th century.
In addition to improvements and inventions, the Renaissance era saw the birth of new technologies and scientific theories. This period also brought the use of oil paint, which added life to works of art. Furthermore, the renaissance encouraged free thinking. Many of the theories of the time, such as heliocentricity, led to the development of telescopes and constellations. It also brought about the invention of eyeglasses and clocks. Weapons also became more advanced, and the Renaissance became a period of prosperity and innovation.
Occurring in the 15th and 16th centuries, it brought Europe out of the “Dark Age” and brought it to the Enlightenment, through a return to the ancient ideals that changed the world. While the Renaissance had far-reaching implications, it was in fact born in a small Mediterranean nation with an illustrious past: Italy. Throughout the period, precious statues of antiquity were continuously unearthed in Italy, giving artists such as Michelangelo new considerations on the human form. It was present at the excavation of Laocoon and his Sons in 1506, a vast sculpture that was once exhibited in the palace of Emperor Titus and was probably manufactured between 27 BC.
C. and 68 A.D. The Fourth Crusade of the 13th century had substantially weakened the Byzantine Empire, and in 1453 Constantinople finally fell into the hands of the Ottomans. During this turbulent period, a huge community of Byzantine scholars was forced to flee to northern Italy, bringing with them a large number of classical texts preserved in their libraries.
In the Abbey of St. Galen he discovered a complete copy of the lost Oratory Institute of Quintilian, while in the Abbey of Cluny, in 1414, a series of speeches by Cicero were found that were taken back to Italy. The Medici family played a big part in the explosion of art and culture that took place in their city, which led Florence to be considered the home of the Renaissance itself. By founding the eminent Medici Bank in 1397, the family became valuable patrons of some of the country's most important artists.
Lorenzo de Medici supported the work of Botticelli, Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci in the 15th century, while popes Medici Leo X and Clement VII commissioned works from Raphael and Michelangelo, and the latter painted the world-famous Sistine Chapel at the request of Clement VII. Florence at the end of the 15th century masterpiece from Stefan du Pérac's engraving was published in 1569, five years after the death of Michelangelo. Conversely, some church members considered the Renaissance increasingly lenient and frivolous, leading to events such as the Bonfire of the Vanities in 1497, in which Friar Girolamo Savonarola publicly burned quantities of books, cosmetics and art in Florence. This conflict of ideas would be resolutely seen in the coming decades, as humanist movement and intellectual movements concepts gradually spread throughout Europe and eventually gave rise to the Protestant Reformation.
In 15tin Luther nailed his ninety-fifth thesis to the door of the Church of All Saints in Wittenburg, declaring the corruption of the Catholic Church—and its defiance of its authority—to all. The Renaissance began in Italy, birthplace of the Roman Empire. After the fall of the empire in the 4th century and the later Middle Ages, the incredible art and ideas of the Roman era were temporarily lost. They were later rediscovered in Italy around the 12th century, leading to the Renaissance time period.
Scientific research on ancient texts by Italian writers Dante Alighieri and Francesco Petrarch, in particular, helped to awaken a growing fascination with ancient times throughout Italy. His ideas, in turn, encompassed all aspects of society, including philosophy, art, literature, science, mathematics and more, and ultimately led to the Renaissance cultural movement. .
