Renaissance

Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

Renaissance

Role / Field:

A period of European cultural rebirth, marked by classical revival and humanism (14th-17th centuries).

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Early Life

The Renaissance (UK: rin-AY-sənss, US: REN-ə-sahnss, "rebirth") was an European period of history and cultural movement taking place at the end of the Late Middle Ages and the beginning of the early modern era. It is variously defined as covering the 15th and 16th centuries or, more broadly, as lasting from the 14th century to the 17th. It was characterized by the European rediscovery and revival of the literary, philosophical, and artistic achievements of classical antiquity. Associated with great change in art, architecture, politics, literature, exploration and technology, the Renaissance was first centered in the Republic of Florence, then spread to the rest of Italy and later throughout Europe. The Renaissance's intellectual basis was founded in its version of humanism, derived from the concept of Roman humanitas and the rediscovery of classical Greek philosophy, such as that of Protagoras, who said that "man is the measure of all things".

Career & Major Achievements

Although the invention of metal movable type sped the dissemination of ideas from the later 15th century, the changes of the Renaissance were not uniform across Europe: the first traces appear in Italy as early as the late 13th century, in particular with the writings of Dante and the paintings of Giotto. As a cultural movement, the Renaissance encompassed innovative flowering of literary Latin and an explosion of vernacular literatures, beginning with the 14th-century resurgence of learning based on classical sources, which contemporaries credited to Petrarch; the development of linear perspective and other techniques of rendering a more natural reality in painting; and gradual but widespread educational reform. It saw myriad artistic developments and contributions from such polymaths as Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo, who inspired the term "Renaissance man". In politics, the Renaissance contributed to the development of the customs and conventions of diplomacy. The period also saw revolutions in printing and navigation, as well as the introduction of modern banking and the field of accounting.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The Renaissance began in Italy during the crisis of the Late Middle Ages. It had a different period and characteristics north of the Alps and in Spain. In Italy, the period conventionally ends with the waning of humanism, and the advent of the Reformation (1517), the Sack of Rome (1527) or the Counter-Reformation (1545), and in art, the Baroque period. Proponents of a "long Renaissance," however, may propose that (outside of Italy) the period extended into the 17th century. The traditional view focuses more on the Renaissance's early modern aspects 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.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1517: 1517 Milestone — In Italy, the period conventionally ends with the waning of humanism, and the advent of the Reformation (1517), the Sack of Rome (1527) or the Counter-Reformation (1545), and in art, the Baroque period.

Notable Quotes by Renaissance

“Man is the measure of all things.”

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Renaissance

True or False: “The Renaissance was a sudden, complete break from the preceding Middle Ages period.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): Many historians argue that the Renaissance was more of an extension or continuation of the Middle Ages, showing continuous links between the eras.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Dayan Khan — Historical peer (Died in 1517) (1517): Great Khan of the Northern Yuan dynasty, unifying the Mongols under Chinggisid rule.
• Fra Bartolomeo — Historical peer (Died in 1517) (1517): Master Italian Renaissance painter known for religious subjects and idealized style.
• Abraham Ortelius — Historical peer (Born in 1527) (1527): Pioneering cartographer, creator of the first modern atlas, Theatrum Orbis Terrarum.
• Akiyama Nobutomo — Historical peer (Born in 1527) (1527): A prominent samurai of the Sengoku period, known for his service to the Takeda clan.
• Azai Nagamasa — Historical peer (Born in 1545) (1545): Sengoku daimyō who allied with the Asakura against Oda Nobunaga before his downfall.
• Sher Shah Suri — Historical peer (Died in 1545) (1545): Founder of the Sur Empire, a great administrator and general in Northern India.

Frequently Asked Questions about Renaissance