In the process of the development of humankind, and its advancement, each period in history has often been characterized by particular developmental aspects that bear different significances to humanity. For instance, the enlightenment period was most notable for the improvement in the available body of knowledge. The industrial revolutions, on the other hand, heralded economic growth and social change. In this essay, the role played by the Renaissance is covered, with emphasis on how it shaped developments.
The Renaissance Period
The Renaissance Period started in Italy before spreading throughout continental Europe. As such, it extended from the fourteenth century to the seventeenth century. Beginning as a cultural movement, the Renaissance Period renewed humanity's interest in antiquities, and led to the emergence and spread of humanist philosophy. It stressed belief in individual selves and worth, as well as dignity (Monfasani, 2016). The values would be reflected in the entire spectrum of existence from architecture to literature, art, and even science. Similarly, the same period also had a radical shift in the views about science, religion, and politics. Mainly, the Renaissance Period was essential to human history for it helped set off the age of exploration, and subsequent European domination of the world (Williamson, 2017).
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Developments in the Period 1300 – 1550
During the period between the fourteenth century and the first half of the sixteenth century, the most significant event was the occurrence of the Black Death rather than the Renaissance. It is because the latter event was not yet as widespread during the fourteenth century, as it only covered parts of Italy. By comparison, the Black Death, a scourge of bubonic plague had wiped off as much as one-third of the European population by the end of the fourteenth century. Mahoney and Nardo (2016), note that the pandemic devastated the European continent between 1348 and 1350. It led to the heightening of man's belief in the existence of the after-death, and its importance. The high mortality which accompanied the period began in the city-states of Italy and quickly spread across the entire European landmass, leading to humans' focus on good on earth to ensure a better life after death (Monfasani, 2016).
However, given the short period that the Black Death as a historical event lasted, the Renaissance Period shaped development more during the second half of the period under review. During the time, forces in literature and art, as well as in philosophy such as Michelangelo, Raphael, and Poggio Bracciolini dominated the popular influences in Europe (Williamson, 2017). As concerns religion, the period saw a dedication of efforts towards Christianity rather than its rejection. It is evident in the works of Michelangelo and many others who sought to improve the embrace of the religion. Humanists such as Lorenzo Valla and Erasmus also promoted the embrace of the original version of the New Testament (Bentley, 2018).
Finally, the Renaissance period also saw a shift in world view towards a perception that embraced a renewed interest in humanism, including self-belief and human dignity. Due to the focus on humanism, the power distributions changed, with a greater emphasis on democracy as humans sought greater equality and focused more on self-worth (Chamberlin, 2019). Significant influences emerged from the arts and humanities, including philosophy, painting. They were led by crucial figures including Baroque, Leonardo Da Vinci, Niccolò Machiavelli, and Giovanni Pico Della Mirandola. In terms of the economies, the period also heralded the beginning of European domination of the world, with notable explorers such as Christopher Columbus and Vasco Da Gama setting off on expeditions that allowed European nations to seek new territories.
References
Bentley, J. H. (2018). Humanists and Holy Writ: New Testament Scholarship in the Renaissance . Princeton University Press.
Chamberlin, E. R. (2019). The World of the Italian Renaissance . Thousand Oaks, CA: Routledge.
Mahoney, E., & Nardo, D. (2016). The Black Death: Bubonic Plague Attacks Europe . Greenhaven Publishing LLC.
Monfasani, John (2016). Renaissance Humanism, from the Middle Ages to Modern Times . Boston, MA: Cengage Learning
Williamson, M. M. (2017). Hunger, Appetite, and the Politics of the Renaissance Stage (Doctoral Dissertation, Queen's University Belfast).
