"The Renaissance is a period in history and a cultural movement marking the transition from the Middle Ages to modernity, covering the 15th and 16th centuries..."
A period of cultural and artistic rebirth, marked by an increased interest in classical learning and the development of humanism.
Humanism: A philosophy that emphasized the study of classical literature, art, and culture, as well as the potential of humans to achieve greatness.
Art and architecture: The Renaissance saw a revival of classical styles, as well as the emergence of new styles and techniques in painting, sculpture, and architecture.
Science and technology: Advancements in fields such as astronomy, mathematics, and engineering were made during the Renaissance.
Literature: Literature in the Renaissance is characterized by a focus on individuality, reason, and emotion.
Politics: Renaissance politics were marked by shifting alliances between city-states, the rise of monarchies, and the emergence of nation-states.
Religion: The Renaissance saw a questioning of traditional religious values and a rise in secularism.
Exploration and colonization: European exploration and colonization of the New World was a major event during the Renaissance.
Music: Renaissance music is characterized by polyphony and the use of harmony.
Gender roles: Renaissance society had strict gender roles, with women expected to be submissive and men expected to be dominant.
Medicine: Great strides were made in the field of medicine during the Renaissance, with the emergence of new theories and treatments.
Philosophy: Renaissance philosophy was focused on questions of morality, ethics, and human nature.
Economics: The Renaissance saw the rise of capitalism as merchants and entrepreneurs amassed wealth and power.
Education: Education was highly valued during the Renaissance, with the establishment of universities and the emphasis on classical learning.
Printing: The invention of the printing press revolutionized the dissemination of knowledge and ideas during the Renaissance.
Early Renaissance (14th century): An intellectual and artistic movement in Italy that embraced the revival of classical forms, humanism, and individualism. Examples of this era include artists Giotto and Masaccio.
High Renaissance (15th-16th century): A period of artistic and cultural flowering, especially in Italy, featuring great works of art and literature. Famous artists of this era include Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, and Raphael.
Northern Renaissance (15th-16th century): A cultural and intellectual movement in northern Europe that took inspiration from Italian humanism and focused on painting, literature, and printing. Famous artists of this era include Jan van Eyck and Albrecht Dürer.
Mannerism (16th century): A style of art characterized by exaggeration and distortion of forms, unconventional compositions, and vivid colors. Famous Mannerist artists include El Greco and Parmigianino.
Baroque (17th century): An artistic movement characterized by dramatic compositions, grandeur, and ornate decoration. Famous Baroque artists include Caravaggio, Bernini, and Rubens.
"...characterized by an effort to revive and surpass ideas and achievements of classical antiquity; it occurred after the crisis of the Late Middle Ages and was associated with great social change in most fields and disciplines, including art, architecture, politics, literature, exploration and science."
"In addition to the standard periodization, proponents of a 'long Renaissance' may put its beginning in the 14th century and its end in the 17th century."
"The traditional view focuses more on the early modern aspects of the Renaissance and argues that it was a break from the past, but many historians today focus more on its medieval aspects and argue that it was an extension of the Middle Ages."
"The intellectual basis of the Renaissance was its version of humanism, derived from the concept of Roman humanitas and the rediscovery of classical Greek philosophy..."
"...the development of perspective in oil painting and the revived knowledge of how to make concrete."
"The Renaissance began in Florence, one of the many states of Italy."
"...its political structure, the patronage of its dominant family, the Medici, and the migration of Greek scholars and their texts to Italy following the fall of Constantinople to the Ottoman Turks."
"Other major centers were Venice, Genoa, Milan, Rome during the Renaissance Papacy, and Naples."
"From Italy, the Renaissance spread throughout Europe... and also to American, African and Asian territories ruled by the European colonial powers of the time or where Christian missionaries were active."
"The Renaissance has a long and complex historiography, and in line with general scepticism of discrete periodizations, there has been much debate among historians..."
"The term rinascita ('rebirth') first appeared in Giorgio Vasari's Lives of the Artists (c. 1550), anglicized as the Renaissance in the 1830s."
"The word has also been extended to other historical and cultural movements, such as the Carolingian Renaissance (8th and 9th centuries), Ottonian Renaissance (10th and 11th century), and the Renaissance of the 12th century."
"The Renaissance encompassed innovative flowering of Latin and vernacular literatures, beginning with the 14th-century resurgence of learning based on classical sources..."
"In politics, the Renaissance contributed to the development of the customs and conventions of diplomacy..."
"...and in science to an increased reliance on observation and inductive reasoning."
"...best known for its artistic developments and the contributions of such polymaths as Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo, who inspired the term 'Renaissance man'."
"Early examples were the development of perspective in oil painting and the revived knowledge of how to make concrete."
"...the Renaissance has close similarities to both, especially the late and early sub-periods of either."
"...and gradual but widespread educational reform."