The Renaissance

    Around 1450, European scholars started to take interest in not just themselves and already-known facts, but the whole world around them as well. Their artwork became more relastic and closer to nature. The people explored new land as well. This creative and well-organized age in ancient Europe is named "the Renaissance," which in French means "rebirth." Some say this was the beggining and the trigger to a modern society.
    The Renaissance started in northern Italy, and steadily spread through all of Europe. Italian cities such as Naples, Genoa, and Venice were key trading cities between the Middle East and Europe. As Italy traded with other countries such as Arab, ideas and knowledge exchanged and spread also. These ideas, such as ancient Greek literature, became the basis of the Renaissance art and literature. After the fall of the Byzantine Empire  in 1453, many scholars left Greece to go to Italy. This was the key to the Renaissance's fluorish.
    When people hear the word Renaissance, they simply think of studying ancient scholars and their work. However, it is more than that. The Renaissance greatly influenced paintings, sculptures, architecture, and especially literature. During this time, a literate form called "sonnet" became very popular. One famous English poet, Edmund Spenser, is known for his famous "The Faerie Queene", a poetic epic. He had a unqie style of writing that interested many citizens. 
    
    The paintings and sculptures changed from mythical and unreal to realism and natural, and focused less on religious topics. Also, the wealthy became patrons and started to buy and take part in contributing to great art. Artists of the Renaissance also showed human emotions and sense in their works. Of them,  da Vinci, Donatello, and Fra Angelico were major artists that impacted the whole world as we know it by the unique style, significance, and beauty of their artwork.
Picture
The Last Supper




Nakamoto, Rikuo, and Sandve, Kyle. "Renaissance Artists". Web. (your date of access) <www.renaissanceartists.weebly.com>.