Question

What did Renaissance scholars hope to learn from the classical past? If the word renaissance means “rebirth,” what exactly was reborn?

Answer 1

Renaissance period which literally meant ‘reform’, brought sea of change in politics, cultural, scientific, arts and intellectual. It was between 14th and 17th century these changes started. This was the first time in human history after the fall of ancient Rome which was really significant. Black Death in the Europe swept one third of the population. So, when it stopped there were few survivors and more wealth. So when the new labour market started, the wages went up, thus improving the standard of living.
Art – Reforms in art started in Italy and spread throughout Europe. Artists such as Leonardo da Vinci, Botticelli, Michelangelo, Raphael and Donatello brought smiles and surprise to the world through their arts. They brought life in the statues and paintings.
Science - Copernicus and Galileo brought a paradigm shift about the understanding about the universe and our planet. So far, people thought that sun was revolving around the earth but they proved that the Earth revolved around the Sun. Science flourished during the renaissance breaking all the traditional and religious beliefs. Radical thinkers like Martin Luther and Erasmus broke the bonds that the Catholic Church practised on people.
Printing Press – With the introduction of printing press by Gutenberg books were printed in more numbers, thus sharing of knowledge started. A society with intellectuals started flourishing.
Exploration – It was during this time, more explorers from Europe started navigating the world and finding new lands. This helped the overcrowded Europeans to free some spaces.
Weapons – Technology boomed and new weapons came handy to capture new lands.