A History of the Renaissance Period Essay Example

The quest for knowledge inevitably causes a change and, the disruption it causes often brings both inconvenience and opportunity. The modern life we lead is due to the slow shifts in the course of history.

In Europe, the Modern Period of History began in the 15th century. Many developments occurred at the same time during the transition from the Middle Ages to the Modern Era. This time is known as the "Renaissance Era" or the "Revival/ Rebirth Period. " It started as a result of the Ottoman Turks capturing Constantinople. The capture of Constantinople completed the Roman Empire's demise. As a result, people and learned scholars fled to Italy, taking priceless manuscripts to Venice and the West with them. 

The educated people were encouraged to impart anecdotes and learnings. They established universities and libraries. As education increased, so did the idea of humanism. It inevitably led to the desire for freedom, causing change. This prompted individuals to question the church's doctrines, and they rejected anything that didn't seem reasonable or logical.

Architecture, literature, art, technology, science, and explorations all benefited from the spirit of inquiry. People's attention turned from celestial issues to human affairs. Rather than religion, they valued human values, dignity, and inquiry. 

The Renaissance was also a period of exploration and discovery. It exuded a sense of adventure.  The Ottoman Turks conquered Asia Minor in the mid-15th century, severing the connection between Europe and Asia. They also controlled the major ports and levied high taxes on commodities travelling through their territory. This caused Europeans to necessitate the rapid development of other ways of obtaining spices from Asia. As the saying goes, "necessity is the mother of inventions." The desire to get wealthier drove explorers to seek territory. Several explorers like Vasco da Gama, Christopher Columbus, Bartholomew Diaz set out in the sea to find land.

Trade and commerce grew rapidly as a result of these discoveries. There arose a new class of wealthy merchants, who aided monarchs in the establishment of affluent kingdoms. They comprised a significant segment of the society, called the middle class.

Cultures and religions began to mix as a result of the discovery of new land and the expansion of trade. The mixing of cultures is also depicted in a tale of its time "Gulliver's Travels". The fictional story depicts the blending of philosophies and Gulliver's journey of discovering new land. He was seen admiring the people's architecture as well as their mathematical abilities whose shore he had been washed upon.

During the Middle Ages, the Pope held absolute authority and could not be criticized. The papacy was also heavily active in politics. The Church grew richer and more deceitful over time. People's perspectives had shifted as a result of the Renaissance. Rationalism, humanism, and the scientific spirit shifted people's viewpoints. The Church's blind convictions were inevitably called into doubt as a result of this. The introduction of the printing press aided in the propagation of these concepts. The Bible was translated into local languages to ensure that everyone had access to the truth of the Bible and saw the divergence of the papacy from the written text.

In the 16th century, Many leaders including Martin Luther and John Calvin, questioned the Pope's authority People's minds were inevitably clouded by their influence. In German states, many Lutheran churches were established and the adherents were referred to as Protestants. Martin Luther's protest movement had a substantial impact on the Reformation. It was the immediate cause of the Reformation. Scholars such as John Wycliffe and John Huss used writing to disclose the Church's corruption. As a result of the Reformation, the church was irrevocably divided, several civil conflicts erupted, religious intolerance spread and Protestants were persecuted, leading to their migration.

In response to people’s discontent, the monarchs broke free from the clutches of the church to established nation-states. It laid great emphasis on modernism and humanism. In reply to the reformation, the church became more progressive and humane. It is known as the counter-reformation.

In conclusion, the Renaissance brought out many evils in society and fought against them. It was the change that occurred then that has such a big impact on the way we live now.