10 June 2014
The rejuvenation of Greek and Roman art, culture, and knowledge expanded throughout Europe more than 500 years ago, all in the opening of the 14th century known as the Renaissance. Trading was enlarged as a result of the Crusaders and ideas were distributed from person to person. Following the Plague, arrived the restoring of Silk Road commerce and trade routes. Curiosity flourished among people and soon enough, ideas and inventions soared all throughout Europe, bringing back Greek and Roman cultures to create an advancement in knowledge of literature, art, science, and even architecture to create a new view of the world and a boost in new achievements. By the year of 1425 in Florence, Italy, people such as Fillipo Brunelleschi gathered ancient Greek designs in architecture and incorporated those concepts into their own approach in architecture. People seized ancient ideas and made them into their own, creating a resurrection of history. The Renaissance was a restoration of old philosophy which was integrated into new understandings, which delivered an era of knowledge, learning, and wisdom.
To begin with, in the opening of the 16th century, Cosimo de Medici promoted scholars and artists, which eventually lead to the establishment of the Medici Library and formation of the Plato Academy. Medici’s helping hand and effort brought scholars together to put heads together and talk about ancient Greek works and culture. Not only did Medici’s support contribute to the revival of ancient Greek knowledge, but it also carried on a new configuration of society in Europe. Governments were serially moving onto a leadership of bankers and rich merchants. A ruling of kings and emperors within cities and states became obsolete and soon enough, ideas of the rich merchants and bankers expanded too many lands, such as in the Venice where Doge was chosen and voted in as a ruler by the aristocracy. The Renaissance was also a period when “The Reformation” began. Within the 16th century, the Roman Catholic Church began to sell indulgences so those who were wealthy could buy their way to heaven and buy God’s forgiveness. In 1517, Martin Luther spoke out because of his perspective. Martin Luther thought that people should have a direct relationship with God and depict the Bible themselves and believed forgiveness shouldn’t be sold by the church. The Reformation introduced the Protestant and views began to shift. Artistry and religious representations greatly escalated and as a result of the Counter Reformation and those who were Protestants showed a great amount of curiosity into the world, which brought the thriving of learning and wisdom. As education increased during the Renaissance, inventions and manufacturing flourished. In Venice, Italy the printing press was put into action and “became the center of book trade.” People were able to write about traveling and exploring, giving information about the world about them. Thousands of copies of books were made and ideas were easily spread all across Europe and knowledge blossomed because of the ability to study ancient Greece and Rome.