The Renaissance
The renaissance was a period in European history that stretched from around 1400 to 1600. The exact period in which it started or ended remains unknown, with most historians stating that it may have started earlier and lasted longer according to different countries. The word renaissance originates from the French word meaning “rebirth.” This period connected the periods of middle ages and the modern world. It was characterized by cultural changes and developments in art, science technology music, all which sought to make life easier and more fun. The renaissance is believed to have begun early in the 14th century before spreading to other parts of the world.
During the middle age period, way before the renaissance, the country was filled with wars, drought, pandemics, and the black death. However, in the period beginning in 1300, people started thinking and viewing the world differently. They realized that they had the opportunity to make life better. This gave birth to the renaissance. During this period, people felt more awakened and sought to improve their lives by revising, redesigning, and expanding on their cultural norms and beliefs. They realized that they could make life more comfortable by putting resources into better use. Among the significant developments during the renaissance were in philosophy, astronomy, humanism, painting, writing, and the well-known Shakespeare’s work during the late renaissance.
The rise of Humanism
The new way of thinking led to the rise of a cultural movement called humanism, which hit off quite immediately from the 14th century. Humanism sought to emphasize the importance of human achievement and encouraged different steps of success in the fields of education, arts, science, innovation, and literature. By 1450, the Gutenberg printing press was invented, which greatly encouraged the dissemination of ancient texts all over Europe in such a short time.
Dozens of other changes were triggered, including classical mathematics that influenced new financial trading mechanisms and advanced techniques that enabled easier and better ocean navigation. The renaissance was very influential in changing the way people thought. The “Renaissance Man” remains the key player as he was the master of new inventions, discoveries, styles, and explorations that are still relevant in our lives today.
End of the Renaissance
The end of the Renaissance period has been linked to several factors but mainly to the Florence decline. The first invasion of Florence occurred in 1494, while in the same period, different cities in Italy broke into warfare. Dozens of political parties and party movements had been created by this time, all of which had different reactions toward the renaissance. In the early 1550s, many works of art and literature that played a central role in developing the renaissance were banned, and the renaissance come to an end in Italy. However, in the bigger part of Europe and other countries, the renaissance was alive and growing even after its abolishment in Italy.
.
