WHAT WAS THE RENAISSANCE

The Renaissance was a fervent period of European cultural, artistic, political and
economic “rebirth” following the Middle Ages. Generally described as taking place from
the 14th century to the 17th century, the Renaissance promoted the rediscovery of classical
philosophy, literature and art. The Renaissance began in Italy in the mid-1300s and spread to
other parts of Europe in the 1400s and 1500s. The Renaissance is a period in European history
that followed the Middle Ages and ended in the 17th century. “Renaissance” is a
French word for “rebirth.” During this period, there was a “rebirth” of classical learning. ...
Many famous artists, writers, philosophers, and scientists lived during this period.

THE BEGINNING OF THE RENAISSANCE

It is generally believed to have begun in Italy during the 14th century, after the end of
the Middle Ages, and reached its height in the 15th century. The Renaissance spread to the
rest of Europe in the 16th and 17th centuries.
RENAISSANCE ART
One of the fields that embodied the Renaissance was fine art,
especially painting and sculpture. Works from this period were inspired by Classical Greek
and Roman art and were known for their grace, harmony, and beauty. Artists worked from
the living model and perfected techniques such as the use of perspective. In addition, the
Renaissance saw the refinement of mediums, notably oils. Leonardo da
Vinci, Michelangelo, and Raphael are widely considered the leading artists of the era.

DEVELOPMENT IN SCIENCE
The Scientific Method was further developed during the Renaissance. Galileo used
controlled experiments and analyzed data to prove, or disprove, his theories. The
process was later refined by scientists such as Francis Bacon and Isaac Newton.  Marie
Boas Hall coined the term Scientific Renaissance to designate the early phase of the
Scientific Revolution, 1450–1630.
RENAISSANCE MAN
The term Renaissance man or polymath is used for a very clever man who is good at
many different things. It is named after the Renaissance period of history (from the 14th
century to the 16th or 17th century in Europe). Two of the best-known people from this time
were Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo.

ASTRONOMY IN RENAISSANCE
During the Renaissance people began once again to explore and experiment with the world
around them. One area of science which made great leaps during this time was astronomy.
Astronomy is the study of celestial bodies in outer space such as the Moon, the
planets, and the stars. Astrology flourished in the Renaissance because it made sense
to people and offered the power to predict the future, however imperfectly, in uncertain
times. THE ROTATING OF THE EARTH AROUND THE SUN WAS DISCOVERED. Galileo
was a scientist and a firm believer that all natural laws were rooted in scientific
mathematical ways.