The Renaissance Explained: How It Changed the World Forever

Once upon a time in Europe, there was a period of renewed interest in classical art and culture. It lasted roughly from the 14th to the 17th century and saw incredible works of art, innovation in science and exploration across the globe. We call this time period the Renaissance. In this video, we're going to learn what sparked this era of cultural rebirth and how it changed the world. So if you're ready to get those brain cows milked, let's get to it. Okay, before we dive into the Renaissance, we need to talk about the Middle Ages, because the Renaissance was a direct response to medieval life in Europe. If you've never heard me talk about the Middle Ages before, then don't worry. Just know that life was pretty rough back then. Most people were poor and lived in filth and squalor. The governments weren't doing much to improve their lives. In fact, most of these so-called governments weren't even centralized, or really any kind of government at all. They were just a bunch of random nobles squabbling over land while the commoners suffered. And the church was the only institution with any real power, and they certainly weren't looking out for the common good either. Overall, it was a dark time. But despite the general bleakness of medieval life, there were glimmers of hope. For one thing, beginning around 1000 CE, Europe started to experience something called the High Middle Ages. This was a time period where society became more centralized, and the standard of living increased overall. Towns grew and became more diverse, trade expanded, the population grew, and many intellectual and scientific advances were made. But as we saw in our last video, by the year 1300, the picture wasn't quite so rosy. The plague had ravaged Europe, killing millions and destroying the economy, and life for the average person was still pretty tough. But compared to the early Middle Ages, things had improved, and compared to what was to come in the early modern period, things were still pretty great. So when the Renaissance hit the scene, it didn't start from nothing. There was already a foundation of growth and prosperity to build off of. Now, the word Renaissance actually means rebirth in French. And it's called that because this period marked a renewal of interest in classical learning, specifically from ancient Greece and Rome. You see, during the Middle Ages, the dominant style of art was mostly religious, and followed a very strict set of rules. Take this sculpture of the Virgin Mary holding baby Jesus, for example. Everything about this image is meant to convey the religious message. The gold highlights are meant to symbolize her divine nature. The fact that she's holding the child Jesus emphasizes her role as the mother of God. And the stiff pose is meant to project an image of holiness. That's not to say medieval art wasn't beautiful, but you could argue that its beauty was purely in the service of the church. By contrast, classical art was seen as more realistic and natural. It wasn't created in service of any particular religion, and it celebrated human beings and human potential. Take a look at this statue of David by Michelangelo. Compare it to the Virgin Mary and think about the differences. For one thing, it's bigger, more grandiose. Instead of being stiff and holy, David is dynamic and handsome. He looks like a real person with real muscles. And he isn't perfect. He has flaws. The Renaissance was all about celebrating humanity, both the good and the bad. It's no coincidence that this statue of David was commissioned right after the Medici family took control of Florence. They were a wealthy and powerful family who ruled Florence like a small kingdom, and they loved showing off their wealth and power. That was another aspect of the Renaissance. It was an age of exploration and discovery, both literally and figuratively. As we saw in our last video, Europeans started to explore the world like never before. They found new continents, explored existing ones, and established new trade routes. They also started to question long-held beliefs about the world. Scholars began to study the natural world directly instead of relying on ancient authorities like Ptolemy and Aristotle. They challenged the prevailing geocentric theory that placed the Earth at the center of the universe. And they questioned the long-held belief that the Earth was flat. In short, the Renaissance was all about questioning old ideas and finding new ones. It was the complete opposite of the medieval worldview. Now this all sounds pretty neat, but how did it start? Well, as with most big historical turning points, there's no single event that can be pointed to as the cause. Rather, the Renaissance emerged slowly but steadily out of a number of different developments. First, as we mentioned earlier, the High Middle Ages laid a foundation for the Renaissance. Significant population growth and increased trade led to the growth of towns and cities, which led to an increase in secularism. More and more people were living lives separate from the church, and they had more money to spend on things like art. Second, starting in the 12th century, European scholars rediscovered a lot of Greek and Roman texts, largely thanks to Arab scholars. These texts inspired new ways of thinking about the world and encouraged people to look to classical antiquity for inspiration. Third, during the Renaissance, many wealthy merchant families emerged, like the Medici in Florence, the Sforza in Milan, and the Gonzaga in Mantua. These families were extremely rich, and they used their wealth to commission incredible works of art and architecture. They were also patrons of the arts, meaning they supported artists financially so that they could produce work. And fourth, perhaps the most important catalyst for the Renaissance was the invention of perspective, which allowed artists to create incredibly realistic paintings that tricked the eye. Linear perspective gave artists the ability to create depth on a two-dimensional surface. With this new technique, artists could paint buildings and landscapes that appeared to recede into the distance. They could also include people in their paintings who appeared to exist within the same space. Okay, so now that we understand what sparked the Renaissance, let's take a closer look at some of its characteristics. First of all, the Renaissance was a gradual process that unfolded differently in different places. Generally speaking, Italy was first, followed by the rest of Europe. Within Italy, there were different centers of activity. Early on, Florence was the heart of the Renaissance, but later the focus shifted to Rome. As we said earlier, the Italian Renaissance lasted from the 14th to the 16th centuries. During that time, Italy produced some of the most famous works of art ever. Michelangelo's David, Raphael's The School of Athens, Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa, just to name a few. The Renaissance also saw incredible works of literature, including Niccolò Machiavelli's The Prince, an early modern treatise on power, and of course, Shakespeare's plays, which captured the imagination of the Elizabethan age. The Renaissance also produced some of the greatest scientists who ever lived. Nicolaus Copernicus proposed the heliocentric theory, placing the sun at the center of the universe. Johannes Kepler discovered the laws of planetary motion, Galileo Galilei invented the telescope and made groundbreaking discoveries about the moon, planets, and stars. Overall, the Renaissance was a time of great intellectual and artistic achievement. It celebrated human beings and their potential. It encouraged exploration and discovery, both literal and figurative, and it transformed the way we view the world. Okay? Now let's finish up by talking about how the Renaissance changed the world. First of all, the Renaissance helped to lay the foundations of modern science. By emphasizing observation and experimentation, scientists were able to make incredible discoveries that revolutionized our understanding of the natural world. This led to the scientific revolution in the 16th and 17th centuries, which fundamentally changed the way we view the world. Second, the Renaissance helped to pave the way for the age of exploration. As Europeans explored the world, they encountered new cultures and new ideas. This led to a period of rapid exploration and discovery that lasted from the 15th to the 17th centuries. Third, the Renaissance helped to transform European society. The Renaissance ideal of the individual helped to usher in the modern era. Emphasis on human potential and individual achievement helped to lay the groundwork for the democratic ideals of the Enlightenment. Fourth, the Renaissance transformed art. The classical style of art that emerged during the Renaissance continues to influence artists today, and the techniques developed by Renaissance artists continue to be studied and emulated. Finally, the Renaissance transformed architecture. The classical style of architecture that emerged during the Renaissance continues to influence architects today, and the techniques developed by Renaissance architects continue to be studied and emulated. In conclusion, the Renaissance was a truly remarkable period in history. It was a time of great intellectual and artistic achievement that transformed the world. From the rediscovery of classical learning to the rise of humanism, from the invention of perspective to the age of exploration, the Renaissance was a time of incredible change and innovation. I hope you enjoyed this whirlwind tour of the Renaissance. If you want to learn more, I've included a bunch of resources in the description below. And, as always, thank you for watching.