However, the beginnings of the period - the early Renaissance of the 15th century and the

Italian Proto-Renaissance from around 1250 or 1300 - overlap considerably with the Late
Middle Ages, which are typically dated to c. The traditional view focuses more on the early
modern aspects of the Renaissance and argues that it was a break from the past. However,
many historians today focus more on its medieval aspects and argue that it was an extension of
the Middle Ages.[4][ The Middle Ages, which lasted from 1250 to 1500, were a protracted era
marked by slow changes, much like the modern era. The Renaissance, which served as a
transitional era between both, has many characteristics with both, particularly the late and
early sub-periods of either.

The notion of Roman humanitas and the rediscovery of classical Greek philosophy, such as that
of Protagoras, who claimed that "man is the measure of all things," served as the intellectual
foundation for the Renaissance. This new way of thinking showed itself in the fields of
literature, science, politics, and architecture. Early examples include the refinement of
perspective in oil painting and the resurgence of concrete production skills. The changes of the
Renaissance were not uniform throughout Europe; the first signs can be found in Italy as early
as the late 13th century, particularly in the writings of Dante and the paintings of Giotto.
However, the development of metal movable type sped up the dissemination of ideas from the
later 15th century.

The 14th-century resurgence of learning based on classical sources, which contemporaries

credited to Petrarch, was the beginning of the Renaissance as a cultural movement. The
Renaissance also included the development of linear perspective and other techniques for
rendering a more natural reality in painting, as well as gradual but widespread educational
reform. The Renaissance resulted in a greater emphasis on observation and inductive reasoning
in science as well as the creation of diplomatic traditions and conventions in politics. However,
the Renaissance is perhaps best known for its artistic developments and the contributions of
such polymaths as Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo. It also saw revolutions in many
intellectual and social scientific pursuits, as well as the introduction of modern banking and the
field of accounting.