About 1450, European scholars
became more interested in studying the world around them. Their art became more
true to life. They began to explore new lands. The new age in Europe was
eventually called "the Renaissance." Renaissance is a French word
that means "rebirth." Historians consider the Renaissance to be the
beginning of modern history.
The Renaissance began in northern
Italy and then spread through Europe. Italian cities such as Naples, Genoa, and
Venice became centers of trade between Europe and the Middle East. Arab
scholars preserved the writings of the ancient Greeks in their libraries. When
the Italian cities traded with the Arabs, ideas were exchanged along with
goods. These ideas, preserved from the ancient past, served as the basis of the
Renaissance. When the Byzantine Empire fell to Muslim Turks in 1453, many
Christian scholars left Greece for Italy.
The Renaissance was much more than
simply studying the work of ancient scholars. It influenced painting,
sculpture, and architecture. Paintings became more realistic and focused less
often on religious topics. Rich families became patrons and commissioned great
art. Artists advanced the Renaissance style of showing nature and depicting the
feelings of people. In Britain, there was a flowering in literature and drama
that included the plays of William Shakespeare.
Learning and the Arts began to
flourish during the Renaissance
• Crusaders returned to Europe with a newfound understanding of
the world.
• The invention of the printing press encouraged literacy and
helped to spread new ideas.
• Wealthy families and the church had amassed enough wealth to
become patrons.
• The development of financial techniques such as bookkeeping and
credit allowed merchants to prosper.
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