Renaissance Research Paper

Was the Renaissance a new development or was it just a continuation of the Middle Ages? The Renaissance was a new development completely different from the middle ages. Even though many scholars claim that much of the ideas of the Renaissance came from the middle ages and that their were many progressive changes during the middle ages, the Renaissance had enough unique qualities to justify itself as a completely separate period of time in history.

During the Renaissance there were rises of new social classes completely different then before. People became more secular, and were concerned more with individuality, materialism, idealism and humanism. The invention of the printing press made books cheaper and available for anyone to buy. New authors
The bases of this evolution were the humanist ideas of the revival of classical literature, and the ideas of the Greco-Romans. The curiosity of the Renaissance, and the interest in the world led to the demand of new literature that expressed the new modern life. The strive for individuality encouraged writers to try new experiments with their work in order to be known, and get the support of powerful patrons. Dante Alighieri, who wrote during the 13th century, is said to represent the transition of middle age literature to the Renaissance. Even though his outlook on life was based on religion from the middle ages, his epic poem, The Divine Comedy showed high interest in human life and behavior. Francesco Petrarch encouraged this new evolution of literature greatly, and stated that literature and education are as important in life as anything else, and that they should not be given up under any circumstances. The 16th century produced some of the greatest works of Renaissance literature, such as The Prince by Machiavelli, in which he tells the ways a ruler should gain and hold power, The Courtier, by Castiglione in which he described what a perfect Renaissance man would be, and many others. It was also during the 16th century that the influence of this literature began to be seen in the rest of
Italy was in the center of the Mediterranean which was a perfect place for trade, because goods were able to come from all different parts of the world. Raw goods came into Italy from England and other countries, and were produced into consumer goods and then exported. Merchants flourished with this new trade business, and became one of the wealthiest people of the Renaissance. Banks and bankers also gained wealth. They loaned money to popes, rulers, and merchants and also operated various commercial enterprises. The new idea of capitalism allowed for private ownership of businesses, so many people became businessmen, became wealthy themselves, and boosted the economy of their