Just the Facts - The Renaissance
No period of history can boast of greater beauty than The
Renaissance. This was the period, from approximately early 14th century
to late 16th century, that gave us Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and
Shakespeare.
The word 'renaissance' is a French word which means 'rebirth'. The
people credited with beginning The Renaissance were deliberately trying
to imitate the classical models of Ancient Greek and Rome. They were
attempting to return to that golden age that they felt represented a
high point for civilization.
This was an age when the world seemed to come alive with invention,
creativity, imagination and curiosity. It was an age of exploration
marked by the voyages of Christopher Columbus, Amerigo Vespucci, Ponce
de Leon, Balboa, De Soto and Marco Polo. It was a time when Venice was
the world's busiest seaport and Florence was the heart of great art. At
the beginning of The Renaissance, Italy, just as in the golden age of
Ancient Rome, was again the center of world culture. Genoa, Milan,
Venice, Rome, Verona and Florence were economic, trade and financial
leaders for Europe. The Renaissance movement quickly spread all over
the continent.
The invention of the Gutenberg printing press in 1450 is a
milestone which marks the beginning of The Renaissance. It allowed the
spread of ideas possible at a faster rate and in a broader geographical
sense. It made The Renaissance possible as a European-wide phenomenon.
Scholars of The Renaissance from Yale University share their
knowledge in this video which takes the viewer on a captivating and
beautiful trip back to one of the most glorious historic periods.
This video deserves a place in every history student's collection.
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