THE FRENCH WORD RENAISSANCE MEANS “REBIRTH.” IT IS THE NAME GIVEN TO ONE OF THE MOST EXCITING PERIODS IN HISTORY. IT’S IMPOSSIBLE TO GIVE EXACT DATES. BUT THE RENAISSANCE LASTED FROM THE EARLY OR MIDDLE 1400S TO AROUND 1600.
THE WORD IS FRENCH, BUT THE RED-HOT CENTER OF THE RENAISSANCE WAS ITALY. IT WAS A TIME OF CREATIVITY, NEW IDEAS, AND NEW WAYS OF THINKING. THE PURPOSE OF LIFE WAS NOT SOLELY TO DIE AND GO TO HEAVEN. THERE WERE GREAT THINGS THAT PEOPLE COULD ACCOMPLISH HERE ON EARTH. THE TERM “RENAISSANCE MAN” REFERS TO SOMEONE WHO IS GOOD AT EVERYTHING; LEONARDO WAS A CLASSIC EXAMPLE OF ONE. ARTISTS NOW CELEBRATED THE HUMAN BODY IN LIFELIKE PAINTINGS. SCHOLARS STUDIED WORKS OF ANCIENT GREEK AND ROMAN THINKERS THAT HAD BEEN LOST FOR CENTURIES. EXPLORERS SAILED TO UNKNOWN PARTS OF THE WORLD.
NEW CONTINENTS WERE DISCOVERED. SCIENTISTS WERE MAKING STARTLING DISCOVERIES, TOO, ABOUT THE UNIVERSE. IN MANY WAYS, THE RENAISSANCE WAS THE START OF MODERN TIMES. |