TN History Textbook: Renaissance | Old & New NCERTs for IAS Preparation (Must Read) - UPSC PDF Download

 Page 1


223
The term Renaissance literally means “rebirth” or “revival”.
But it refers to the significant changes that took place in Europe
during the transition period between the medieval and modern. There
was a revival of literature and art on the intellectual side. The spirit
of enquiry led to scientific inventions. Politically, this period witnessed
the end of feudalism and the emergence of nation-states. The spirit
of individualism and humanism began to dominate in the social sphere.
The religious transformation was symbolized by the Reformation.
All these changes in Europe were collectively referred to as
Renaissance.
The Roman Empire declined by the end of the 5
th
 century A.D.
It had resulted in the neglect of classical literature and arts. But
these treasures of culture were preserved in the Eastern Roman
Empire with its capital at Constantinople. The Ottoman Turks captured
Constantinople in 1453. As a result, the Byzantine-Greek scholars
LESSON 21
RENAISSANCE
Learning Objectives
Students will acquire knowledge about
1. The meaning of Renaissance.
2. The causes for the birth of Renaissance in Italy.
3. Revival of classical Literature.
4. Renaissance Literature.
5. Renaissance Art.
6. Development of Science.
7. Results of the Renaissance.
Page 2


223
The term Renaissance literally means “rebirth” or “revival”.
But it refers to the significant changes that took place in Europe
during the transition period between the medieval and modern. There
was a revival of literature and art on the intellectual side. The spirit
of enquiry led to scientific inventions. Politically, this period witnessed
the end of feudalism and the emergence of nation-states. The spirit
of individualism and humanism began to dominate in the social sphere.
The religious transformation was symbolized by the Reformation.
All these changes in Europe were collectively referred to as
Renaissance.
The Roman Empire declined by the end of the 5
th
 century A.D.
It had resulted in the neglect of classical literature and arts. But
these treasures of culture were preserved in the Eastern Roman
Empire with its capital at Constantinople. The Ottoman Turks captured
Constantinople in 1453. As a result, the Byzantine-Greek scholars
LESSON 21
RENAISSANCE
Learning Objectives
Students will acquire knowledge about
1. The meaning of Renaissance.
2. The causes for the birth of Renaissance in Italy.
3. Revival of classical Literature.
4. Renaissance Literature.
5. Renaissance Art.
6. Development of Science.
7. Results of the Renaissance.
225 224
Another scholar, Bracciolini traced the works  of
Tacitus, Livy and Sophocles. In the 15
th
 century Pope
Nicholas V founded the Vatican Library and the
ancient manuscripts were preserved in that library.
They were studied and analysed by scholars. The
contribution of Erasmus (1463-1536) in correcting
and editing the Latin works was also notable. He
edited the New Testament in the  Greek language.
The invention of printing
press by John Gutenberg (1398-
1468) in Germany had influenced
the Renaissance literature. The
first book published by him was
The Bible. William Caxton set up
a printing press in England.
Shortly, many printing presses
came up throughout Europe and it provided a
stimulus to the Renaissance movement. The availability of books at
cheaper rates made the masses to improve their awareness.
Renaissance Literature
Apart from the revival of classical literature, many works in
classical languages as well as in the native
languages came up during this period. We have
already referred to Dante’s
Divine Comedy written in the
Italian language. Similarly,
Chaucer wrote the Canterbury
Tales in English. Boccaccio was
the author of the Deccameron,
a collection of fables.
Machiavelli, who lived in
BOCCACCIO
LIVY 
ERASMUS 
DANTE 
MACHIAVELLI 
fled from Constantinople to Rome. They brought with them the Greek
and Roman heritage. With this revival of classical learning in Italy, a
spirit of enquiry developed. This spirit of enquiry stimulated the
progress of science, art, architecture, sculpture, painting, literature,
geography and religion.
Renaissance in Italy
Italy is considered the birth place of the Renaissance for several
reasons. Some of them were:
-Italy was the seat of ancient civilization and the Latin
language.
-The rich city states in Italy like Florence and Venice patronized
art and literature. For example, the Medici family of Florence had
patronized many scholars.
-The publication of the Divine Comedy by the greatest Italian
poet Dante (1265-1321) triggered the Renaissance movement in the
city of Florence. It was written in the Italian language. Thereafter,
the Renaissance spread to other parts of Europe and reached its
peak in the sixteenth century.
Revival of Classical Literature
The most important contribution of the
Renaissance was the revival and learning of ancient
Greek and Latin literature. The pioneer in this effort
was Petrarch (1304–1374) with his profound
knowledge in these languages, he collected and
compiled many ancient manuscripts containing the
works of Plato and Aristotle. His disciple Boccaccio
had also  encouraged the classical learning. Many Greek scholars
who came from Constantinople spread the ancient Greek literature
in Florence. The most notable among them was Manuel Chrysolores.
PETRA RC H 
Page 3


223
The term Renaissance literally means “rebirth” or “revival”.
But it refers to the significant changes that took place in Europe
during the transition period between the medieval and modern. There
was a revival of literature and art on the intellectual side. The spirit
of enquiry led to scientific inventions. Politically, this period witnessed
the end of feudalism and the emergence of nation-states. The spirit
of individualism and humanism began to dominate in the social sphere.
The religious transformation was symbolized by the Reformation.
All these changes in Europe were collectively referred to as
Renaissance.
The Roman Empire declined by the end of the 5
th
 century A.D.
It had resulted in the neglect of classical literature and arts. But
these treasures of culture were preserved in the Eastern Roman
Empire with its capital at Constantinople. The Ottoman Turks captured
Constantinople in 1453. As a result, the Byzantine-Greek scholars
LESSON 21
RENAISSANCE
Learning Objectives
Students will acquire knowledge about
1. The meaning of Renaissance.
2. The causes for the birth of Renaissance in Italy.
3. Revival of classical Literature.
4. Renaissance Literature.
5. Renaissance Art.
6. Development of Science.
7. Results of the Renaissance.
225 224
Another scholar, Bracciolini traced the works  of
Tacitus, Livy and Sophocles. In the 15
th
 century Pope
Nicholas V founded the Vatican Library and the
ancient manuscripts were preserved in that library.
They were studied and analysed by scholars. The
contribution of Erasmus (1463-1536) in correcting
and editing the Latin works was also notable. He
edited the New Testament in the  Greek language.
The invention of printing
press by John Gutenberg (1398-
1468) in Germany had influenced
the Renaissance literature. The
first book published by him was
The Bible. William Caxton set up
a printing press in England.
Shortly, many printing presses
came up throughout Europe and it provided a
stimulus to the Renaissance movement. The availability of books at
cheaper rates made the masses to improve their awareness.
Renaissance Literature
Apart from the revival of classical literature, many works in
classical languages as well as in the native
languages came up during this period. We have
already referred to Dante’s
Divine Comedy written in the
Italian language. Similarly,
Chaucer wrote the Canterbury
Tales in English. Boccaccio was
the author of the Deccameron,
a collection of fables.
Machiavelli, who lived in
BOCCACCIO
LIVY 
ERASMUS 
DANTE 
MACHIAVELLI 
fled from Constantinople to Rome. They brought with them the Greek
and Roman heritage. With this revival of classical learning in Italy, a
spirit of enquiry developed. This spirit of enquiry stimulated the
progress of science, art, architecture, sculpture, painting, literature,
geography and religion.
Renaissance in Italy
Italy is considered the birth place of the Renaissance for several
reasons. Some of them were:
-Italy was the seat of ancient civilization and the Latin
language.
-The rich city states in Italy like Florence and Venice patronized
art and literature. For example, the Medici family of Florence had
patronized many scholars.
-The publication of the Divine Comedy by the greatest Italian
poet Dante (1265-1321) triggered the Renaissance movement in the
city of Florence. It was written in the Italian language. Thereafter,
the Renaissance spread to other parts of Europe and reached its
peak in the sixteenth century.
Revival of Classical Literature
The most important contribution of the
Renaissance was the revival and learning of ancient
Greek and Latin literature. The pioneer in this effort
was Petrarch (1304–1374) with his profound
knowledge in these languages, he collected and
compiled many ancient manuscripts containing the
works of Plato and Aristotle. His disciple Boccaccio
had also  encouraged the classical learning. Many Greek scholars
who came from Constantinople spread the ancient Greek literature
in Florence. The most notable among them was Manuel Chrysolores.
PETRA RC H 
227 226
prevailed, the subject matter of the most of the Renaissance art was
Christian. Renaissance painting bloomed most profusely in Italy.
Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519), Michelangelo (1475-1564) and
Raphael (1483-1520) were the dominant figures among the
Renaissance painters.
Leonardo da Vinci, one of the most versatile
men of his time, was an artist, poet, musician, and
engineer. Hence, he is known as the “Renaissance
Man”. Born in Florence, he visited several countries.
He was patronized by the Duke of Milan. His
famous paintings were the Mona Lisa and the Last
Supper.
Michelangelo was both a painter and
sculptor. He lived in  Florence and patronized by
the Medici family. Later, he went to Rome. The
magnificent frescoes on the ceiling of the Sistine
Chapel in the Vatican represent his most brilliant
achievement in painting. This work contains 145
pictures with 394 figures, some of which are as
much as ten feet high. His painting, The Last
Judgement is considered the best in the world.
Raphael achieved a rare blending of devotional feeling with a
sense of beauty. Although Raphael died at the age of thirty-seven,
he produced a great number of paintings, of which
the most familiar is the Madonna.
The Venetian School is an excellent example
of the secularization of the Renaissance art. Artistic
expression in Venice was worldly and materialistic.
Titian (1477-1576) and Tintoretto (1518-1592) were
the greatest painters of Venice.
LEONARDO DA VINCI 
MICHELANGELO 
RAPHAEL 
Florence, wrote his eight- volume History of Florence. His most
famous work was The Prince, a book on political science.
While Italy was the home of the most famous
literary figures of the Renaissance, a Renaissance
literature typical of that period can also be found in
France, England, Germany, and Spain.
In England, Sir Thomas Moore
wrote his famous book Utopia in
Latin. However, the Elizabethan era
marked the beginning of the English Renaissance. It
saw dramatists like William Shakespeare, Christopher
Marlowe and Charles Webster; poets like Edmund
Spenser, Sydney and Ben Johnson. Hakluyt wrote
excellent travel accounts during this
period.
Montaigne (1533-1592), the French essayist,
was the most typical writer of  the Renaissance
literature. His works reflect an intense interest in
himself and in things connected with the life of man.
His essays on education were regarded as important
for centuries. A forerunner of Voltaire in his method
of writing and thinking, Montaigne revolted against the authority and
the tyranny of the past and earned the title “the first modern man”.
 In Germany, Martin Luther translated the Bible in the German
language. Sebastian Brant wrote The Ship of Fools. In Spain,
Cervantes authored the famous Don Quixote.
Renaissance Art
Art in the Middle Ages was dominated by the Christian religion
and Church. During the Renaissance importance was given to the
love of nature and human body. Although the spirit of humanism
THOMAS MORE 
SHAKESPEARE 
MARTIN LUTHER 
Page 4


223
The term Renaissance literally means “rebirth” or “revival”.
But it refers to the significant changes that took place in Europe
during the transition period between the medieval and modern. There
was a revival of literature and art on the intellectual side. The spirit
of enquiry led to scientific inventions. Politically, this period witnessed
the end of feudalism and the emergence of nation-states. The spirit
of individualism and humanism began to dominate in the social sphere.
The religious transformation was symbolized by the Reformation.
All these changes in Europe were collectively referred to as
Renaissance.
The Roman Empire declined by the end of the 5
th
 century A.D.
It had resulted in the neglect of classical literature and arts. But
these treasures of culture were preserved in the Eastern Roman
Empire with its capital at Constantinople. The Ottoman Turks captured
Constantinople in 1453. As a result, the Byzantine-Greek scholars
LESSON 21
RENAISSANCE
Learning Objectives
Students will acquire knowledge about
1. The meaning of Renaissance.
2. The causes for the birth of Renaissance in Italy.
3. Revival of classical Literature.
4. Renaissance Literature.
5. Renaissance Art.
6. Development of Science.
7. Results of the Renaissance.
225 224
Another scholar, Bracciolini traced the works  of
Tacitus, Livy and Sophocles. In the 15
th
 century Pope
Nicholas V founded the Vatican Library and the
ancient manuscripts were preserved in that library.
They were studied and analysed by scholars. The
contribution of Erasmus (1463-1536) in correcting
and editing the Latin works was also notable. He
edited the New Testament in the  Greek language.
The invention of printing
press by John Gutenberg (1398-
1468) in Germany had influenced
the Renaissance literature. The
first book published by him was
The Bible. William Caxton set up
a printing press in England.
Shortly, many printing presses
came up throughout Europe and it provided a
stimulus to the Renaissance movement. The availability of books at
cheaper rates made the masses to improve their awareness.
Renaissance Literature
Apart from the revival of classical literature, many works in
classical languages as well as in the native
languages came up during this period. We have
already referred to Dante’s
Divine Comedy written in the
Italian language. Similarly,
Chaucer wrote the Canterbury
Tales in English. Boccaccio was
the author of the Deccameron,
a collection of fables.
Machiavelli, who lived in
BOCCACCIO
LIVY 
ERASMUS 
DANTE 
MACHIAVELLI 
fled from Constantinople to Rome. They brought with them the Greek
and Roman heritage. With this revival of classical learning in Italy, a
spirit of enquiry developed. This spirit of enquiry stimulated the
progress of science, art, architecture, sculpture, painting, literature,
geography and religion.
Renaissance in Italy
Italy is considered the birth place of the Renaissance for several
reasons. Some of them were:
-Italy was the seat of ancient civilization and the Latin
language.
-The rich city states in Italy like Florence and Venice patronized
art and literature. For example, the Medici family of Florence had
patronized many scholars.
-The publication of the Divine Comedy by the greatest Italian
poet Dante (1265-1321) triggered the Renaissance movement in the
city of Florence. It was written in the Italian language. Thereafter,
the Renaissance spread to other parts of Europe and reached its
peak in the sixteenth century.
Revival of Classical Literature
The most important contribution of the
Renaissance was the revival and learning of ancient
Greek and Latin literature. The pioneer in this effort
was Petrarch (1304–1374) with his profound
knowledge in these languages, he collected and
compiled many ancient manuscripts containing the
works of Plato and Aristotle. His disciple Boccaccio
had also  encouraged the classical learning. Many Greek scholars
who came from Constantinople spread the ancient Greek literature
in Florence. The most notable among them was Manuel Chrysolores.
PETRA RC H 
227 226
prevailed, the subject matter of the most of the Renaissance art was
Christian. Renaissance painting bloomed most profusely in Italy.
Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519), Michelangelo (1475-1564) and
Raphael (1483-1520) were the dominant figures among the
Renaissance painters.
Leonardo da Vinci, one of the most versatile
men of his time, was an artist, poet, musician, and
engineer. Hence, he is known as the “Renaissance
Man”. Born in Florence, he visited several countries.
He was patronized by the Duke of Milan. His
famous paintings were the Mona Lisa and the Last
Supper.
Michelangelo was both a painter and
sculptor. He lived in  Florence and patronized by
the Medici family. Later, he went to Rome. The
magnificent frescoes on the ceiling of the Sistine
Chapel in the Vatican represent his most brilliant
achievement in painting. This work contains 145
pictures with 394 figures, some of which are as
much as ten feet high. His painting, The Last
Judgement is considered the best in the world.
Raphael achieved a rare blending of devotional feeling with a
sense of beauty. Although Raphael died at the age of thirty-seven,
he produced a great number of paintings, of which
the most familiar is the Madonna.
The Venetian School is an excellent example
of the secularization of the Renaissance art. Artistic
expression in Venice was worldly and materialistic.
Titian (1477-1576) and Tintoretto (1518-1592) were
the greatest painters of Venice.
LEONARDO DA VINCI 
MICHELANGELO 
RAPHAEL 
Florence, wrote his eight- volume History of Florence. His most
famous work was The Prince, a book on political science.
While Italy was the home of the most famous
literary figures of the Renaissance, a Renaissance
literature typical of that period can also be found in
France, England, Germany, and Spain.
In England, Sir Thomas Moore
wrote his famous book Utopia in
Latin. However, the Elizabethan era
marked the beginning of the English Renaissance. It
saw dramatists like William Shakespeare, Christopher
Marlowe and Charles Webster; poets like Edmund
Spenser, Sydney and Ben Johnson. Hakluyt wrote
excellent travel accounts during this
period.
Montaigne (1533-1592), the French essayist,
was the most typical writer of  the Renaissance
literature. His works reflect an intense interest in
himself and in things connected with the life of man.
His essays on education were regarded as important
for centuries. A forerunner of Voltaire in his method
of writing and thinking, Montaigne revolted against the authority and
the tyranny of the past and earned the title “the first modern man”.
 In Germany, Martin Luther translated the Bible in the German
language. Sebastian Brant wrote The Ship of Fools. In Spain,
Cervantes authored the famous Don Quixote.
Renaissance Art
Art in the Middle Ages was dominated by the Christian religion
and Church. During the Renaissance importance was given to the
love of nature and human body. Although the spirit of humanism
THOMAS MORE 
SHAKESPEARE 
MARTIN LUTHER 
229 228
Copernicus (1473-1543)
established the heliocentric
theory. According to this theory
the heavenly bodies do not
revolve about the earth as
believed during that period but
around the sun. Kepler (1571-
1630) formulated mathematical
laws to support the conclusions of Copernicus. He also stated that
the planets revolve around the sun in elliptical orbits. Galileo (1564-
1642) through the invention of the telescope brought new evidence
to support the Copernican theory.
Newton (1642-1727) concluded that the
movements of all celestial bodies were controlled
by gravitation. With the new astronomical
knowledge that was available, the old Julian
calendar was reformed in 1582 by Pope Gregory
XIII.
The humanistic spirit of the Renaissance
had also awakened increased interest in the study
of medicine and anatomy. Vesalius (1514-1564), a Netherlander wrote
a treatise on human anatomy. William Harvey (1578-1657) discovered
the blood circulation, a prime contribution to medical science. In this
period, chemistry became something more than alchemy. Paracelsus
(1493-1541)  showed that reactions in the human body involve
chemical changes. He had employed chemicals for medicinal
purposes. Cordus (1515-1544) made ether from sulphuric acid and
alcohol. Helmont (1577-1644) discovered the carbon dioxide.
Results of the Renaissance
The Renaissance remained the symbol of the beginning of the
modern age. The spirit of enquiry and the consequent scientific
KEPLER 
GALILEO 
NEWTON
Renaissance Sculpture
 The art of sculpture had also witnessed
progress during the Renaissance period. It was
more original and beautiful. The pioneer of the
Renaissance sculpture was Lorenzo Ghiberti
(1378-1455). The magnificent doors at the
Baptistery of Florence were his master piece.
Michael Angelo appreciated the beauty of these
doors as worthy to the gates of the Paradise. Donatello (1386-1466)
produced the statue of St. George in Florence and that of St. Mark at
Venice. Michelangelo besides being a painter was a celebrated
sculptor. He produced some of his best sculptures for the Medici
family in Florence. He was also the creator of the statue of David in
Florence. Brunelleschi and Robbia were the other famous sculptors
of this period. One of the most familiar examples of the Renaissance
architecture is St. Peter’s Church of Rome.
Development of Science
The spirit of modem science was born with the Renaissance.
Science in the Middle Ages struggled against
superstitions. The Renaissance brought about a
critical observation of natural phenomena. This
spirit of learning took root in science.
Francis Bacon (1561-1626) is considered
the father of modern science.
He denounced the deductive
method and advocated the
inductive method in scientific research. Descartes
(1596-1650) brought out convincingly the necessity
of questioning everything. Descartes contributed the
idea of doubt, and doubt was the forerunner of a
new age in science.
LORENZO GHIBERTI
FRANCIS BACON
COPERNICUS 
Page 5


223
The term Renaissance literally means “rebirth” or “revival”.
But it refers to the significant changes that took place in Europe
during the transition period between the medieval and modern. There
was a revival of literature and art on the intellectual side. The spirit
of enquiry led to scientific inventions. Politically, this period witnessed
the end of feudalism and the emergence of nation-states. The spirit
of individualism and humanism began to dominate in the social sphere.
The religious transformation was symbolized by the Reformation.
All these changes in Europe were collectively referred to as
Renaissance.
The Roman Empire declined by the end of the 5
th
 century A.D.
It had resulted in the neglect of classical literature and arts. But
these treasures of culture were preserved in the Eastern Roman
Empire with its capital at Constantinople. The Ottoman Turks captured
Constantinople in 1453. As a result, the Byzantine-Greek scholars
LESSON 21
RENAISSANCE
Learning Objectives
Students will acquire knowledge about
1. The meaning of Renaissance.
2. The causes for the birth of Renaissance in Italy.
3. Revival of classical Literature.
4. Renaissance Literature.
5. Renaissance Art.
6. Development of Science.
7. Results of the Renaissance.
225 224
Another scholar, Bracciolini traced the works  of
Tacitus, Livy and Sophocles. In the 15
th
 century Pope
Nicholas V founded the Vatican Library and the
ancient manuscripts were preserved in that library.
They were studied and analysed by scholars. The
contribution of Erasmus (1463-1536) in correcting
and editing the Latin works was also notable. He
edited the New Testament in the  Greek language.
The invention of printing
press by John Gutenberg (1398-
1468) in Germany had influenced
the Renaissance literature. The
first book published by him was
The Bible. William Caxton set up
a printing press in England.
Shortly, many printing presses
came up throughout Europe and it provided a
stimulus to the Renaissance movement. The availability of books at
cheaper rates made the masses to improve their awareness.
Renaissance Literature
Apart from the revival of classical literature, many works in
classical languages as well as in the native
languages came up during this period. We have
already referred to Dante’s
Divine Comedy written in the
Italian language. Similarly,
Chaucer wrote the Canterbury
Tales in English. Boccaccio was
the author of the Deccameron,
a collection of fables.
Machiavelli, who lived in
BOCCACCIO
LIVY 
ERASMUS 
DANTE 
MACHIAVELLI 
fled from Constantinople to Rome. They brought with them the Greek
and Roman heritage. With this revival of classical learning in Italy, a
spirit of enquiry developed. This spirit of enquiry stimulated the
progress of science, art, architecture, sculpture, painting, literature,
geography and religion.
Renaissance in Italy
Italy is considered the birth place of the Renaissance for several
reasons. Some of them were:
-Italy was the seat of ancient civilization and the Latin
language.
-The rich city states in Italy like Florence and Venice patronized
art and literature. For example, the Medici family of Florence had
patronized many scholars.
-The publication of the Divine Comedy by the greatest Italian
poet Dante (1265-1321) triggered the Renaissance movement in the
city of Florence. It was written in the Italian language. Thereafter,
the Renaissance spread to other parts of Europe and reached its
peak in the sixteenth century.
Revival of Classical Literature
The most important contribution of the
Renaissance was the revival and learning of ancient
Greek and Latin literature. The pioneer in this effort
was Petrarch (1304–1374) with his profound
knowledge in these languages, he collected and
compiled many ancient manuscripts containing the
works of Plato and Aristotle. His disciple Boccaccio
had also  encouraged the classical learning. Many Greek scholars
who came from Constantinople spread the ancient Greek literature
in Florence. The most notable among them was Manuel Chrysolores.
PETRA RC H 
227 226
prevailed, the subject matter of the most of the Renaissance art was
Christian. Renaissance painting bloomed most profusely in Italy.
Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519), Michelangelo (1475-1564) and
Raphael (1483-1520) were the dominant figures among the
Renaissance painters.
Leonardo da Vinci, one of the most versatile
men of his time, was an artist, poet, musician, and
engineer. Hence, he is known as the “Renaissance
Man”. Born in Florence, he visited several countries.
He was patronized by the Duke of Milan. His
famous paintings were the Mona Lisa and the Last
Supper.
Michelangelo was both a painter and
sculptor. He lived in  Florence and patronized by
the Medici family. Later, he went to Rome. The
magnificent frescoes on the ceiling of the Sistine
Chapel in the Vatican represent his most brilliant
achievement in painting. This work contains 145
pictures with 394 figures, some of which are as
much as ten feet high. His painting, The Last
Judgement is considered the best in the world.
Raphael achieved a rare blending of devotional feeling with a
sense of beauty. Although Raphael died at the age of thirty-seven,
he produced a great number of paintings, of which
the most familiar is the Madonna.
The Venetian School is an excellent example
of the secularization of the Renaissance art. Artistic
expression in Venice was worldly and materialistic.
Titian (1477-1576) and Tintoretto (1518-1592) were
the greatest painters of Venice.
LEONARDO DA VINCI 
MICHELANGELO 
RAPHAEL 
Florence, wrote his eight- volume History of Florence. His most
famous work was The Prince, a book on political science.
While Italy was the home of the most famous
literary figures of the Renaissance, a Renaissance
literature typical of that period can also be found in
France, England, Germany, and Spain.
In England, Sir Thomas Moore
wrote his famous book Utopia in
Latin. However, the Elizabethan era
marked the beginning of the English Renaissance. It
saw dramatists like William Shakespeare, Christopher
Marlowe and Charles Webster; poets like Edmund
Spenser, Sydney and Ben Johnson. Hakluyt wrote
excellent travel accounts during this
period.
Montaigne (1533-1592), the French essayist,
was the most typical writer of  the Renaissance
literature. His works reflect an intense interest in
himself and in things connected with the life of man.
His essays on education were regarded as important
for centuries. A forerunner of Voltaire in his method
of writing and thinking, Montaigne revolted against the authority and
the tyranny of the past and earned the title “the first modern man”.
 In Germany, Martin Luther translated the Bible in the German
language. Sebastian Brant wrote The Ship of Fools. In Spain,
Cervantes authored the famous Don Quixote.
Renaissance Art
Art in the Middle Ages was dominated by the Christian religion
and Church. During the Renaissance importance was given to the
love of nature and human body. Although the spirit of humanism
THOMAS MORE 
SHAKESPEARE 
MARTIN LUTHER 
229 228
Copernicus (1473-1543)
established the heliocentric
theory. According to this theory
the heavenly bodies do not
revolve about the earth as
believed during that period but
around the sun. Kepler (1571-
1630) formulated mathematical
laws to support the conclusions of Copernicus. He also stated that
the planets revolve around the sun in elliptical orbits. Galileo (1564-
1642) through the invention of the telescope brought new evidence
to support the Copernican theory.
Newton (1642-1727) concluded that the
movements of all celestial bodies were controlled
by gravitation. With the new astronomical
knowledge that was available, the old Julian
calendar was reformed in 1582 by Pope Gregory
XIII.
The humanistic spirit of the Renaissance
had also awakened increased interest in the study
of medicine and anatomy. Vesalius (1514-1564), a Netherlander wrote
a treatise on human anatomy. William Harvey (1578-1657) discovered
the blood circulation, a prime contribution to medical science. In this
period, chemistry became something more than alchemy. Paracelsus
(1493-1541)  showed that reactions in the human body involve
chemical changes. He had employed chemicals for medicinal
purposes. Cordus (1515-1544) made ether from sulphuric acid and
alcohol. Helmont (1577-1644) discovered the carbon dioxide.
Results of the Renaissance
The Renaissance remained the symbol of the beginning of the
modern age. The spirit of enquiry and the consequent scientific
KEPLER 
GALILEO 
NEWTON
Renaissance Sculpture
 The art of sculpture had also witnessed
progress during the Renaissance period. It was
more original and beautiful. The pioneer of the
Renaissance sculpture was Lorenzo Ghiberti
(1378-1455). The magnificent doors at the
Baptistery of Florence were his master piece.
Michael Angelo appreciated the beauty of these
doors as worthy to the gates of the Paradise. Donatello (1386-1466)
produced the statue of St. George in Florence and that of St. Mark at
Venice. Michelangelo besides being a painter was a celebrated
sculptor. He produced some of his best sculptures for the Medici
family in Florence. He was also the creator of the statue of David in
Florence. Brunelleschi and Robbia were the other famous sculptors
of this period. One of the most familiar examples of the Renaissance
architecture is St. Peter’s Church of Rome.
Development of Science
The spirit of modem science was born with the Renaissance.
Science in the Middle Ages struggled against
superstitions. The Renaissance brought about a
critical observation of natural phenomena. This
spirit of learning took root in science.
Francis Bacon (1561-1626) is considered
the father of modern science.
He denounced the deductive
method and advocated the
inductive method in scientific research. Descartes
(1596-1650) brought out convincingly the necessity
of questioning everything. Descartes contributed the
idea of doubt, and doubt was the forerunner of a
new age in science.
LORENZO GHIBERTI
FRANCIS BACON
COPERNICUS 
231 230
Learning Outcome
After learning this lesson the students will be able to explain
1. The wider meaning of the Renaissance.
2. The reasons for the birth of Renaissance in Italy.
3. The role of intellectuals like Dante and Petrarch in the
revival of Classical Literature.
4. The role of Leonardo da Vinci and others in the Renaissance
art.
5. The scientific development during the Renaissance.
6. The results of the Renaissance.
inventions produced important changes in the life
of humanity. The invention of the Mariner’s
Compass and other astronomical faiths led to the
Geographical discoveries. The impact of these
discoveries was profound in the political and
economic life of the people. The reasoning spirit
had resulted in the Reformation and changed the
outlook of the people towards religion.
WILLIAM HARVEY 
Important Historical Events of Renaissance
1300 Humanism taught at Padua University in Italy
1341 Petrarch given title of ‘Poet Laureate’ in Rome
1349 University established in Florence
1390 Geoffrey Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales published
1436 Brunelleschi designs the Duomo in Florence
1454 Gutenberg prints the Bible with movable type
1495 Leonardo da Vinci paints The Last Supper
1512 Michelangelo paints the Sistine Chapel ceiling
1516 Thomas More’s Utopia published
1543 Andreas Vesalius writes On Anatomy
1582 Gregorian calendar introduced by Pope Gregory XIII
1628 William Harvey links the heart with blood circulation
1687 Isaac Newton’s Principia Mathematica published