The period prior to the Renaissance
The Renaissance was a response to conditions of the time. It became a period of new understandings and ways of viewing the world. It was a period that came after a very difficult time in history known as The Dark Ages.
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First hand account of what living through the 'Black Death' was like:
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The love of art and education was a key feature of a time we call the Renaissance (REN-uh-sahns). The word Renaissance means “rebirth” and refers to the period that followed Europe’s Middle Ages. What was being “reborn”? Interest in Greek and Roman writings was revived. Also, the Renaissance put an emphasis on people as individuals. These ideas were very different from the ideas of the Middle Ages.
During the Middle Ages, most people in Europe had devoted themselves entirely to Christianity. People looked to the church for answers to problems in their lives, and most of Europe’s brilliant and influential thinkers were church figures. By the late 1300s, however, scholars had begun to study subjects besides religion. They studied history, literature, public speaking, and art, subjects that emphasized the actions and abilities of humans. Together, these subjects are called the humanities. The study of the humanities led to a new way of thinking and learning known as humanism.
During the Middle Ages, most people in Europe had devoted themselves entirely to Christianity. People looked to the church for answers to problems in their lives, and most of Europe’s brilliant and influential thinkers were church figures. By the late 1300s, however, scholars had begun to study subjects besides religion. They studied history, literature, public speaking, and art, subjects that emphasized the actions and abilities of humans. Together, these subjects are called the humanities. The study of the humanities led to a new way of thinking and learning known as humanism.
Expansion of Trade
In 1095, Pope Urban II launched a campaign to drive Muslim's out of the "Holy Land'. The First Crusade was considered a success, as it established the Middle East as a Christian Kingdom for about 100 years.
It wasn't until 1187, and a bold new leader by the name of Sultan Saladin, that the lands were returned to Muslims rule. Although the Crusades were essentially 'Holy Wars', the people who made the pilgrimages and fought for the Pope were granted an 'indulgence' = a spot in heaven in exchange for purging the Holy Land of Muslims. The Crusades helped to re-open the Silk Road, and trade between Europe and Asia came alive again. What exactly was the Silk Road? Check out this interactive website to learn more!
The Silk Road |
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