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EUROPEAN RENAISSANCE- The era of Great Men

The famous Renaissance historian Jacob Burkhardt argues in his essay, “ Civilization of the Renaissance in Italy, that the Renaissance was, as an historical event, the transition from medieval times, during which the focus of all life had been religion, to modern times, in which that focus expanded to include learning, rationality, and realism. Whereas in the Middle Ages, religious salvation had occupied the position of utmost importance, during the Renaissance, humanism, stressing the need for individuals to reach their potential in this world, rose up to accompany and rival the goal of salvation”
Many Italian cities were part of the Renaissance such as Florence, Ferrara, Milan and Venice. These cities consisted of many wealthy merchants who spawned the interest on different things, other than trade items such as painting, learning, new systems of government and other literary works. This major event in history was a turning point in terms of enlightenment of minds.

The era also marked the difference in the term: Renaissance and enlightenment. Both involved bringing about major changes in culture, art, religion, science, mind (philosophy) and mathematics. While Renaissance is associated with rebirth of literature, architecture and humanism the Enlightenment calls to mind the scientific method, industrialization and rationality.

There was a change in political scenario with the beginning of the modern era. People started becoming more interested in politics and the world outside their cities. Religious beliefs changed due to growth of literacy. The church began to lose its monopoly as Renaissance gave people the opportunity to think out of the box, explore the world and access to different things which were unheard of in the Middle Ages.

The European Renaissance also produces many great minds. Leonardo Da Vinci was one such great artist cum intellectual thinker of the time. His famous works includes: the Mona Lisa and
The Last Supper. He was also a great inventor and a number of blueprints for devices he had created are still present. He was also interested in human anatomy. He dissected corpses to learn more about human anatomy. One of his famous diagrams of the human body is the Vitruvian Man.

Another famous Personality is Michelangelo Buonarroti, a renowned sculptor. “I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free”- Michelangelo. He created two free-standing sculptures, the Madonna and Child and David. He is also well known for being the chief architect of the St. Peter's Basilica in Rome

Many other sculptors, painters, architects, ambitious and influential artists of the Renaissance era include: Giuseppe Arcimboldi, Botticelli, Leonardo, Raphael, Titian, and E Greco.
Thus the European Renaissance marks the awakening of Europe and describes the intellectual and economic changes which led to the growth from economic stagnation of the Middle Ages to a spurt of financial growth in the Modern era.