The Renaissance: Rebirth of Art and Culture

The Renaissance, meaning "rebirth," was a cultural movement that began in Italy in the 14th century and spread throughout Europe. It marked the transition from medieval to modern times. This period saw a renewed interest in classical Greek and Roman art, literature, and philosophy. Artists developed new techniques like linear perspective, creating more realistic and three-dimensional works. Masters like Michelangelo, Raphael, and Leonardo da Vinci created some of history's most iconic artworks. The Renaissance wasn't limited to art. It encompassed literature, with writers like Dante and Shakespeare; science, with figures like Galileo and Copernicus; and philosophy, with humanist thinkers challenging medieval scholasticism. The invention of the printing press by Gutenberg around 1440 accelerated the spread of Renaissance ideas. Books became more accessible, literacy increased, and knowledge disseminated faster than ever before.