Lesson 6 - Renaissance

SOCIAL PRESENTATION
Introduction

Renaissance means rebirth. This word was used to mean the revival of the Roman
and Greek art, literature, science, etc during the 14 to 16th centuries. It began with the
rediscovery of Greco-Roman civilization which had been neglected during the
middle ages.
The Age Of Renaissance

In the history of human civilization, the transition period between the Medieval Age
and Modern Age is called the ‘Age of Renaissance’. This period covers from the 14 th
to the 16th century. During this period, scholars, philosophers, scientists brought an
intellectual awakening. It focused attention upon secular society rather than the
medieval preoccupation.
 Renaissance Scholars And Literature

The renaissance scholars and writers dealt more with humanity than religion which is
why they are called humanists. The great poet of Italy, Alighieri Dante composed the
famous epic, the divine comedy in which Dante had satire the people of upper class.
The other writers and scholars were Petrarch, Boccaccio and Niccole Moachiavelli of
Italy, Edumd Spenser and more. Before them, most of the literatures were written in
Greek and Latn but they wrote it in their own language and changed the tradition. In
the 15th century, ideas began to spread from Italy to other countries which resulted
from religios, military and commercial contracts.
Development In Art And Sculpture

Florence of Italy was the centre of Renaissance art. In the 15th century was ruled by
Medici who was an outstanding patron of the Renaissance Art. Due to his influence
and encouragement, he attracted people of talent from elsewhere in Italy and the city
acquired many priceless works of art. There were many great artists like Leonardo
da Vinci, Micheal Angelo, and Rafaelo Sanzio, etc in this period.
Leonardo Da Vinci (1452- 1519)

Leonardo Da Vinci was a skilled painter, sculptor, architect, musician, engineer and
scientist. In military engineering, he improved the method of loading cannons and
devised equipment for scaling walls. Similarly, he devised the possibility of a
parachute and a flying machine. Apart from these, the painting of Mona Lisa, the Last
Supper, the Virgin of the Rocks, etc were some of his famous paintings. Among these
he is best known for his Self Portrait, The Last Supper and mostly, The Mona Lisa.
Michael Angelo (1475-1564)

Michael Angelo worked in Florence and Rome. He was also talented as a painter,
sculptor, poet and architect. He painted different biblical scenes on the ceiling of the
Sistine Chapel in the Vatican. His best painting is “The Last Judgment” which took
almost four and half years to complete. As a sculptor, he is best known for his Pieta,
David and Moses. He made more than 145 paintings and 294 statues.
Lorenzo Ghiberti (1378 – 1455)

Lorenzo Ghiberti has contributed in the field of sculpture. He sculpted a series of

exquisite biblical scenes for the bronze doors of the baptistery in Florence.
Development In Art And Sculpture

Besides them, there were several reowned artists and sculptures such as Giotto,
Donatello, Titian, etc who have contributed in the Renaissance arts. Besides
churches, Renaissance architects found its expressions in public building and palaces.
Geographical Discoveries

The Renaissance period prompted the spirit of adventure and a great deal of curiosity
among the European people. Marco Polo of Italy discovered China, Vasco de Gama
of Portugal and many people voyaged around the world. These discoveries made
exchanging ideas, goods, etc possible.
Scientific Inventions

The Renaissance period saw great inventions, new ideas and concepts. The monk and
astronomer from Poland, Nicolas Copernicus proved that the earth, the moon and the
planets, moved around the sun. The Italian astronomer, Galileo (1564 - 1642)
invented telescope. The British Scientist, Sir Issac Newton explained the laws of
motion and gravitation.
Conclusion

In this way, the renaissance period was instrumental in bringing significant changes
in all aspects of human life. Many wonders of scientific discoveries and inventions
brought huge changes. The humanist movement brought forward all-round
development. And a lot of people contributed in bringing changes towards humanity.