Renaixement

Renaixement, or Renaissance, was a period of substantial cultural, artistic, scientific, and intellectual transformation in Europe roughly from the 14th to the 17th century. Originating in Italy, particularly in Florence, it spread to other regions and marked a broad revival of interest in classical antiquity and humanist values.

Unlike the medieval scholastic emphasis on theological authorities, the Renaissance encouraged critical inquiry, empirical observation, and secular education. Humanists studied Latin and Greek texts, revived ancient rhetoric and philosophy, and sought to apply classical ideals to politics, education, and civic life. The invention of the printing press by Gutenberg facilitated wider dissemination of ideas.

In the arts, perspective and naturalism transformed painting and sculpture. Notable figures include early Renaissance painters such as Masaccio and Botticelli, and high Renaissance masters like Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Raphael. In architecture, Filippo Brunelleschi and Leon Battista Alberti promoted classical orders and harmony. In science, scholars such as Copernicus, Vesalius, and later Galileo questioned prevailing doctrines, contributing to a scientific revolution.

In religion, the period saw tensions that culminated in the Reformation, while Catholic and Protestant scholars engaged with humanist methods of study. The Renaissance also influenced politics and education, promoting new forms of governance, civic humanism, and the revival of universities and curricula.

The Renaissance spread from Italy to Northern Europe, the Iberian Peninsula, and beyond, transforming art, science, literature, and thought. It ultimately contributed to early modern Europe’s social, religious, and political transformations and marked the transition from the Middle Ages to the modern era.