Rilascimento

Rilascimento is not a standard term in Portuguese-language historiography. It is generally considered a misspelling or informal variant of Renascimento (the Portuguese word for the Renaissance) or Rinascimento (the Italian term). When it appears, it is usually used to refer to the same broad historical phenomenon, rather than to a distinct movement of its own.

The Renaissance, or Renascimento, was a period roughly spanning the 14th to the 17th century in Europe, characterized by a revival of interest in classical antiquity and a new spirit of inquiry. Its origins are traditionally traced to Italian city-states such as Florence, Venice, and Rome, before spreading to the rest of Europe. Central to the movement was humanism, an emphasis on human potential, the study of ancient Greek and Latin texts, and a shift toward secular thought alongside continuing religious traditions.

Key features include the revival of classical art, literature, philosophy, and scientific inquiry; innovations in painting and sculpture, such as the development of perspective; and transformative advances in science, technology, and education, aided by the spread of the printing press. Figures such as Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Raphael epitomize the artistic height, while Copernicus, Vesalius, and Galileo symbolize the scientific turn. The movement also influenced religion, politics, and education, contributing to broader social and cultural changes that paved the way for modern thought and institutions.

In the Portuguese-speaking world, Renaissance ideas filtered in through trade, humanist scholarship, and literary culture, influencing authors like Luís de Camões and Gil Vicente.