Dbq the Renaissance

The Renaissance was primarily thought of as being a period in which the revival of learning flourished, and the arts changed for the better and ideas became more focused life on earth. It was a time when new ideas of individualism, the thought of secularism and the interest in human ideas jumpstarted a new and freer lifestyle for everyone. The new ideas formed in the renaissance made enough impact on the world them and ever since that it deserves to be called its own era. The medieval times was filled with ideas based just around the church.
As the Renaissance began, the arts developed into a freer and move creative society based on more Greek and Roman ideas. “Finding the feudal and ecclesiastical literature and Gothic art of the Middle Ages uncongenial to their taste, they turned for inspiration to the civilization of Roman and Greek antiquity. ” (Document 1) This shows how the mind of the Renaissance where done with all the ideas that dominated the world throughout the Middle Ages. The Renaissance artists wanted art that showed human beauty where as in the Middle ages art was very gothic and based in religion.
Renaissance art is more lifelike than in the art of the Middle Ages, which was very blocky. They went to the Greek and Romans for all kinds of inspiration for example art. Based on the information given in Introduction to Classical, medieval and Renaissance Art the styles of the classic period and Renaissance and Classical Periods share many similar Characteristics but almost nothing in common with the Medieval period. In the Middles Ages arts main purpose was to teach those about religion who could not read or write. As the Renaissance started the ideas moved to show the importance of people and nature.

This is a clear shift that helped define the difference between the two period and it will help support many of the other reasons as well. Along with the arts learning increase exponential. One of best ways to show an increase in learning is the amount of colleges in a country. Based on the facts given in document 8 it is clear to see the large increase of schools in the height of the Renaissance. In the mid to late 15th century when the world was in the height of the Renaissance 31 new University’s were founded compared to 10 in the 12-13 century in all of Europe besides Italy who entered the Renaissance early.
This is clear fact proving that Europe was in a shift to a society not only based on the Church but in schools and learning. Leonardo da Vinci helped illustrate some of the ideas that where new and completely unheard of before the Renaissance. In Document 6 he showed the study of human anatomy. This is new because in the Middle ages the study of human beings and things on our planet where very limited. Majority of learning was done in the Church with relation only to the Church. In 1596 Johannes Kepler the author the Document 7 made observations on orbits and geometrical considerations.
Using science to prove ideas is new to the world and would be frowned upon by the church in medieval times. Art and Learning are two major agreements for the fact that the Renaissance was its own period and helped shape the world, as we know it. There was one point that applied to both art and learning that completely set the Renaissance apart from the medieval times. Which was the study of secularism. “it is in the true order that mortal men should first care for mortal things” W. H, Draper (document 4) What he is saying played apart in all major parts that have been mentioned.
For example art the Renaissance was known for its painting and sculpture with interest in nature and real people going real tasks. This is very different from the medieval times where it was based on the church and what they wanted to show. Also in the learning of the period ideas of Human Anatomy started to emerge as well as geometry and orbits (documents 6/7). With the Renaissance coming back to the “real world’ it marked a change in history. All aspects of life have changed thanks to the ideas that started in this time period.
As well as some of the greatest artist and philosophers to ever live. The ideas that came out in the Renaissance where Cleary enough to call its own period in time. The revival of learning flourished, the arts and ideas became more focused life on earth. Though exact start and end dates are not clear everyone should be able to comprehend the importance of this Renaissance and say that it the information provided is enough to prove that The Renaissance period has a place in history which is completely different then the Medieval times.