Background
The Renaissance was a time of creativity and change
in Europe. It was a rebirth of cultural and intellectual
pursuits after the stagnation of the
Middle Ages. The Renaissance produced a
golden age with many achievements in art,
literature, and science, but most importantly, it
produced a new concept of how people thought of
themselves, each other, and the world around them. The
Renaissance was centered in Italy during the 1300s,
before spreading throughout Europe in the 1500 and
1600s.Art &
Architecture
Renaissance artists and
architects produced some of the finest
works in all the world. While
religious art was still very
 prominent,
new styles were developed. Humanist ideas,
and the concept of realism, was reflected in many
art forms. Artists such as
Leonardo Da Vinci studied
anatomy, while others used live
models to better catch the human form. Artists also
learned the rules of perspective allowing them to
give their works a 3 dimensional appearance.
Architects revived many ancient Greek and Roman styles,
such as the use of
columns,
domes, and
arches.
Artists
Michelangelo:
Sculptor, painter, poet,
engineer, and architect. Famous
works include the mural on the ceiling of the
Sistine Chapel, and the sculpture of
the biblical character David.
Leonardo Da Vinci: A true
Renaissance man interested in a variety of subjects. He
was a painter, sculptor, engineer,
and inventor. Famous works include paintings
Mona Lisa and
The Last Supper. Also left a variety
of sketches showing flying machines and
underwater boats centuries before the
invention of planes and submarines.
Technology
 The
most important technological innovation of the time was
the
printing press. The technology to make
this possible was introduced from China in the 1300s.
By the 1400s, movable type was being used in Europe as
Johann Gutenberg began printing the
Bible in everyday language. Soon millions of books
were in circulation. This invention led to a higher
literacy rate among people, and helped with
the spreading of Renaissance ideas.
|
