Renaissance

The attitudes, beliefs and ideas emerging from the Renaissance are quite different from those of the middle Ages. The word renaissance means a rebirth or revival and that’s exactly what it was. The Renaissance can also be classified as the transitional movement in Europe between medieval times and modern times. The Renaissance was a new beginning, a new time and defiantly a change for the better.

In the Middle Ages religion was very important. The Catholic Church was the only church in Europe during this time. Church officials such as bishops and archbishops played leading rolls in government. The houses in the middle ages were cold, damp and dark. They were very small with even smaller windows and sometimes it was warmer and lighter outside than inside. The people wore woolen clothing with linen undergarments. Better materials were only available to the wealthy. Sickness and disease in the middle ages was very serious. There were few know treatments for many diseases and with the population of towns increasing the hygiene conditions became worse, this lead to many of the health problems. Art and entertainment in the middle ages were only used in church. Art was a big part of church and music in church was an essential part of church services.

The Renaissance represented a dramatic departure from the middle Ages. During the era known as the Renaissance, Europe emerged from the economic slump of the middle Ages and experienced a time of financial growth. The Renaissance was also a time when artistic, scientific, social and political thought were changed forever. The bible was no longer the only piece of literature. In the Renaissance books were being written and printed. People were thinking for themselves, they were no longer following the crowd. Many individuals in the Renaissance changed the world as we know it today. There were many things being invented, artwork created, and famous pieces of literature being written.