Background
The Renaissance was a time of creativity and change
in Europe. It was a rebirth of cultural and intellectual
pursuits after the stagnation of the Middle Ages. The
Renaissance produced a golden age with many achievements
in art, literature, and science, but most importantly,
it produced a new concept of how people thought of
themselves, each other, and the world around them.
The Renaissance was centered in Italy during the 1300s,
before spreading throughout Europe in the 1500 and
1600s.Art &
Architecture
Renaissance artists and architects produced some of the
finest works in all the  world.
While religious art was still very
prominent, new styles were developed. Humanist
ideas, and the concept of realism, was
reflected in many art forms. Artists such as
Leonardo Da Vinci studied anatomy,
while others used live models to better
catch the human form. Artists also learned the
rules of perspective allowing them to give their
works a 3 dimensional appearance.
Architects revived many ancient Greek and Roman styles,
such as the use of columns, domes, and arches.
Artists
Michelangelo: Sculptor, painter, poet,
engineer, and architect. Famous
works include the mural on the ceiling of the Sistine
Chapel, and the sculpture of the
biblical character David.
Leonardo Da Vinci: A true
Renaissance man interested in a variety of
subjects. He was a painter, sculptor,
engineer, and inventor. Famous works
include paintings Mona Lisa
and The Last Supper. Also left a
variety of sketches showing flying machines
and underwater boats centuries before the
invention of planes and submarines.
Technology
The most important technological innovation of the time
was the printing press. The
technology to make this possible was introduced from
China in the 1300s. By the 1400s, movable type was
being used in Europe as Johann Gutenberg
began printing the Bible in everyday language.
Soon millions of books were in circulation. This
invention led to a higher literacy rate
among people, and helped with the spreading of
Renaissance ideas.
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