An Editor's Overview by Natalie R.
The Renaissance was a great time during the 14th to the 16th century that Europe was introduced into new ideas for: Art, culture, religion, architecture, information, technology and so much more. It was really an amazing and impressive time in history. The word renaissance actually means rebirth which is an accurate name for the time period since everything was changing. The Renaissance started from an increase of trade with other countries and it all started in Florence, Italy; since they had access to the ocean trading with the 13 colonies was easy along with countries across the Mediterranean sea.
Florence became a rich city despite its location away from the trade routes. Families began banking their wealth. There were so many it made Florence, Italy the banking center of Italy for the 14th century. By the 15th century banks started branching out all across major cities in Europe, starting loans, operating mills, mines, and other things. People who studied literature, philosophy, and theology were delighted in the find of manuscripts, that showed a new side of the past that they didn’t know. A new type of poetry began to be published as a result. A new art technique was introduced to the artists of Europe by Filippo Brunelleschi called linear perspective, which he found that was used by the ancient Greeks & Romans used that were lost during the Middle Ages. It changed how artists of that generation were able to draw. They were able to create illusions of 3D space creating realism that had never been seen before. Art began drifting away from religion and became more focused on humanism and anatomy.
There were many discoveries and inventions during the renaissance such as the submarine; Leonardo Da Vinci made the plans and Cornelius Van Drebbel built it in 1624. Alchemy was considered witchcraft and most alchemists tried to create gold from other substances. The microscope was invented by Zacharias Janssen in 1590 so that scientists could investigate microorganisms further. Astronomy was another subject popular during the time; Galileo Galilei believed that the sun did not revolve around the earth but the other was around. The Barometer was invented by Evangelista Torricelli in 1643. Medicine & Anatomy uncovered new treatments and medicine, amputations and tortuous procedures were never used as much again, there was also dissection of the human body to start to understand the human brain and body. The slide rule was created by William Oughtred in 1624 which allowed mathematicians perform calculations easily. Europeans traveled to Africa, the Americas, Asia, and Oceania, as a result Columbian Exchange was created so that Europe could trade with them.
The Renaissance also had some conflict with the Catholic Church. Martin Luther found things wrong with the church and told the people of Florence, Italy about it. He made a list called “The Ninety-Five Theses” and nailed it to the church’s doors. The printing press was created and Martin Luther’s 95 theses spread quicker all over Florence, Italy. The Church fought back by excommunicating him, but he kept spreading the word and getting his own followers. The Church set out to kill the heretics, which was the beginning of the Reformation.
The Renaissance was a great time during the 14th to the 16th century that Europe was introduced into new ideas for: Art, culture, religion, architecture, information, technology and so much more. It was really an amazing and impressive time in history. The word renaissance actually means rebirth which is an accurate name for the time period since everything was changing. The Renaissance started from an increase of trade with other countries and it all started in Florence, Italy; since they had access to the ocean trading with the 13 colonies was easy along with countries across the Mediterranean sea.
Florence became a rich city despite its location away from the trade routes. Families began banking their wealth. There were so many it made Florence, Italy the banking center of Italy for the 14th century. By the 15th century banks started branching out all across major cities in Europe, starting loans, operating mills, mines, and other things. People who studied literature, philosophy, and theology were delighted in the find of manuscripts, that showed a new side of the past that they didn’t know. A new type of poetry began to be published as a result. A new art technique was introduced to the artists of Europe by Filippo Brunelleschi called linear perspective, which he found that was used by the ancient Greeks & Romans used that were lost during the Middle Ages. It changed how artists of that generation were able to draw. They were able to create illusions of 3D space creating realism that had never been seen before. Art began drifting away from religion and became more focused on humanism and anatomy.
There were many discoveries and inventions during the renaissance such as the submarine; Leonardo Da Vinci made the plans and Cornelius Van Drebbel built it in 1624. Alchemy was considered witchcraft and most alchemists tried to create gold from other substances. The microscope was invented by Zacharias Janssen in 1590 so that scientists could investigate microorganisms further. Astronomy was another subject popular during the time; Galileo Galilei believed that the sun did not revolve around the earth but the other was around. The Barometer was invented by Evangelista Torricelli in 1643. Medicine & Anatomy uncovered new treatments and medicine, amputations and tortuous procedures were never used as much again, there was also dissection of the human body to start to understand the human brain and body. The slide rule was created by William Oughtred in 1624 which allowed mathematicians perform calculations easily. Europeans traveled to Africa, the Americas, Asia, and Oceania, as a result Columbian Exchange was created so that Europe could trade with them.
The Renaissance also had some conflict with the Catholic Church. Martin Luther found things wrong with the church and told the people of Florence, Italy about it. He made a list called “The Ninety-Five Theses” and nailed it to the church’s doors. The printing press was created and Martin Luther’s 95 theses spread quicker all over Florence, Italy. The Church fought back by excommunicating him, but he kept spreading the word and getting his own followers. The Church set out to kill the heretics, which was the beginning of the Reformation.