BACKGROUND
“Renaissance” which translates into “rebirth” refers to a period in Europe where individuals rediscovered countless of revolutionary ideas. Prior to the Renaissance, Europe was recovering from the Dark Ages and the Plague. The Renaissance was a period of great transformation and innovation that began in Italy in the fourteenth century, and consequently spread to other nations such as England by the sixteenth century.
Previously during the Middle Ages, the Roman Catholic Church and the Pope held a great deal of power in Europe. It was the Church that outlined the right and wrong. In addition, due to the lack of schools, most people were illiterate. Serfs, peasant farmers, and their masters (lords), depended on the Church and the Bible to dictate the details of life. Everyone’s life during the Middle Ages revolved around the Church. However, this began to change when farming methods began to improve and peasants became more self-sufficient. As serfs gained more freedom, they were less dependent on their masters, and were able to take up trades. Thus, merchants and bankers increased consequently increasing the demand for education.
During this surge of interest in Classical learning and values, significant discoveries such as the Copernican system of astrology, and Vesalius’ medical ideas were made. Along with these great discoveries, new concepts were brought to light. A few of these concepts include secularism, rationalism, individualism, and humanism.
Previously during the Middle Ages, the Roman Catholic Church and the Pope held a great deal of power in Europe. It was the Church that outlined the right and wrong. In addition, due to the lack of schools, most people were illiterate. Serfs, peasant farmers, and their masters (lords), depended on the Church and the Bible to dictate the details of life. Everyone’s life during the Middle Ages revolved around the Church. However, this began to change when farming methods began to improve and peasants became more self-sufficient. As serfs gained more freedom, they were less dependent on their masters, and were able to take up trades. Thus, merchants and bankers increased consequently increasing the demand for education.
During this surge of interest in Classical learning and values, significant discoveries such as the Copernican system of astrology, and Vesalius’ medical ideas were made. Along with these great discoveries, new concepts were brought to light. A few of these concepts include secularism, rationalism, individualism, and humanism.