Differentiating the Renaissance Period and Middle Ages Era in Europe

1. To what extent is the term Renaissance a valid concept for a distinct period in early modern European history?

The Renaissance was a period in history that began in Italy dating back to around the 1300s. It followed The Middle Ages and was considered a time of “rebirth”. The people of Europe increased much interest in learning, in the arts and in literature. It also provided the world with a big advancement in science and technology. People questioned old beliefs and were able to turn their miseries into optimism. The Renaissance changed man’s view of man in at least four areas: art, literature, astronomy, and anatomy.

The Renaissance was a time of rebirth. People questioned everything, turning towards secular ideas, and reviving ancient Greek and Roman ideas. During the Renaissance many things changed including mans view of man and the rest of the world. In this time people improved on areas such as art, science, and literature. The Renaissance became a bridge that connected the Middle Ages to the New World.

The Renaissance is a period in Europe, from the 14th to the 17th century, considered the bridge between the Middle Ages and modern history. It started as a cultural movement in Italy in the Late Medieval period and later spread to the rest of Europe, marking the beginning of the Early Modern Age. The Renaissance changed the view of man on the world from how man viewed the world during the middle ages. The purpose of this essay is to show how the Renaissance changed the way man viewed the world. The world was changed in the views of Art, Literature, and Science.

There are many contrasts in the art and music of the Renaissance and the Middle Ages. The Middle Ages was a time of great suffering, including famine and widespread disease, such as the Black Death. The Renaissance was revival of art, learning, and literature. The people’s attitude and fervor for religion had tremendous effects on the art and music produced. The Middle Ages also referred to as “The Age of Faith” was God centered and gave power to the church who dictated how the art should appear, and music should sound. The Renaissance was more concerned with individuals and their talents, the church was not the centralized power, the art exhibited influences from ancient Greece and the Roman Empire.

DBQ Essay The Renaissance changed many people's opinion on earth, the universe, and man, in ways like no other time period has. The ways they did so was by an increase in technology, knowledge, and reasoning. There was an increase in artist and scientist and they look to discover the secrets of the world that we did not know during this time. The Renaissance changed man's view of man by increased knowledge, use of reason, technological advancement, and the drifting of religion.

No, I do not believe that the Renaissance was a distinct break or period from the Middle Ages for many reason. For example, One can not date the Renaissance back to a certain year because what some might believe to be the high Middle Ages others consider to be the early Renaissance. One only needs to look at the works of Ghiberti, Brunelleschi,Donatello, and even Petrarch, one of the first humanists, to see that it is extended to the beginning of the 15th century yet has no clear breaking point.

There are many contrasts in the beliefs and values of the Renaissance and the Middle Ages. The Middle Ages was a time of great suffering, including famine and widespread disease. The Renaissance, however, was a revival of art, learning, and literature. Their views of the purpose of life in the present world and man's place in the world was, perhaps, the greatest contrast. However, their views on politics, religion, and education were very different as well.

The shift between the Middle Ages and the Renaissance was characterized by great socio-economic, political, and religious changes. Politically, the feudal system of the Middle Ages was exchanged for a more stable centralized republic/monarchy system that gave the people more freedom and input. Religiously, secularism became more important as stability gave people a chance to concern themselves with the “here and now” rather than simply the “hereafter.” Socially, there was a shift from dogma and unshakeable belief to humanism and the ability to interpret things for oneself. The Middle Ages began around 400 CE and lasted until 1400 CE while the Renaissance began around 1200 and continued until 1600. The 200 years that overlap between

The Renaissance period was a time of change and rebirth. During this period, the rise of the Middle Class occurred. With the

The Middle Ages was a time in history where everyone was faithful to religion as well as others. Also, in the Middle Ages, people were encouraged to always try their best; they were encouraged to strive for the highest achievement possible and to never give up. The Renaissance, however, was more focused on becoming matured and finding a way to be successful at everything one does. During this era, people strived to become all-sided men, also known as; renaissance men. This means they are not only successful in one type of art but in all types of art, as well as math, science, and literature. The Renaissance was a distinct period in time that was separated from the Middle Ages and began a new era.

People began to feel a consciousness of their past, they no longer settled for the status quo. As a result, there was a desire to rediscover knowledge in various disciplines, and to expand on them. The renaissance was a period of broadening knowledge. It was a time of rebirth in human existence, a time of new discoveries. It was an era in which the feudal system declined, invention and application of: paper, printing, the mariner’s compass, and gunpowder began. The Renaissance was a revival of classical art.

The Middle Ages was all about order. The Church was the center of life and community. Each individual knew and accepted his or her place in society. The Renaissance was all about change. During The Renaissance, everything was challenged including the Church. Artists of great magnitude emerged during this time.

The Renaissance was a period of great cultural and technological changes that swept Europe from the end of the 13th century. It was integral in developing Europe into a powerhouse. Although, each part of Europe was subjected to different changes, there were two primary renaissances, which were most notable. They were the Italian and the Northern renaissance. Both of these renaissances had a profound impact on Europe. But they also had some typical differences among them and each was unique in its own way.

Many things changed from Medieval Times to the Renaissance. The catholic church saw it’s reign secede and individualism increase in the minds of the people of the time. Because of this, people in the Renaissance now looked at themselves in a way that was never seen before. Slowly but surely, the whole world changed. The rise in individualism and humanism signified a change in the way people thought about their purpose in life. In the Medieval Times, people believed that they were at the mercy of God, and they had no control over their own bodies or lives. From the change in Medieval Times to the Renaissance, whole fields were changed, especially art and the medical field, because of the rise of the individual and that way of life.