What is Renaissance? - Definition, Origin, Features, Characteristics, Impact And More

From the 14th through the 17th centuries, significant advancements such as the Renaissance and

Reformation occurred, bringing the Feudal system to an end. The Renaissance was a dynamic era in

European history characterized by a cultural, artistic, political, and economic revival that followed the

Middle Ages. It is typically recognized as occurring from the 14th to the 17th century and was marked by

a renewed interest in classical philosophy, literature, and art.

What is the meaning of the Renaissance?

The Renaissance, a historical era and cultural movement spanning the 15th and 16th centuries, signifies

the shift from the Middle Ages to modernity. This period aimed to revive and surpass classical antiquity's

ideas and achievements, following the crisis of the Late Middle Ages. It brought about significant social

changes across various fields, including art, architecture, politics, literature, exploration, and science.

While the conventional periodization places its boundaries in the 15th and 16th centuries, advocates of a

"long Renaissance" may extend its start to the 14th century and its conclusion to the 17th century.

Background of the Renaissance

Scholars in the 15th century developed the word “Middle Ages” to describe the period between the fall

of the Classical civilization of Greece and Rome and its rediscovery at the beginning of their own century,

a resurgence in which they thought they were participating.

Petrarch, in fact, had voiced the idea of a protracted era of cultural darkness far earlier.

The events of the late Middle Ages, notably those that began in the 12th century, put in motion a

sequence of social, political, and intellectual revolutions that culminated in the Renaissance.

These included the growing inability of the Roman Catholic Church and the Holy Roman Empire to offer a

stable and cohesive framework for the organizing of spiritual and material life, as well as the increase in

the significance of city-states and national groupings monarchies, the development of national

languages, and the breakup of the old feudal structures.

Origin of the Renaissance: The Renaissance initially aimed to rediscover ancient texts and the wisdom of

Greece and Rome but soon transformed into a movement embracing fresh ideas in various domains like

art, religion, literature, philosophy, science, and politics. This shift diminished the Church's sway over

Europe's cultural and intellectual life, as Renaissance thinkers advocated earthly happiness in contrast to

the Church's focus on the afterlife. Central to the Renaissance was humanism, which prioritized

humanity over divinity and introduced a more intellectual, less superstitious approach. Native European

languages supplanted Latin in literature, promoting language growth and national identity formation.

The 15th-century advent of the printing press further fostered education and the dissemination of new

concepts.

Italy as the Birthplace of Renaissance: Many Greek and Roman intellectuals fled to Italy with their

precious manuscripts following the fall of Constantinople in 1453 AD. This marked the start of the Italian

Renaissance.Italy was the center of the great Roman Empire, where academics could discover Roman