How Did The Renaissance Change The World

The Renaissance began during the 13th-16th century. “The word Renaissance itself means rebirth” Stability was being re-instituted into the Peninsula, mainly through the Roman Empire with a system now called feudalism, creating a new city. Bringing about the flowering of architecture, literature, religion, education, and art, the Printing Press was perhaps the most important development of the Renaissance.

Rulers during the 13th century were referred to as Merchants. It was not uncommon to often hear that people bought their way to power. Many well-known families, like the Medachi, went from owning businesses to running cities. “In other words, wealth bought power, and power could buy art and architecture.”

“Florence is the city that
started the Renaissance. All things that happened depended on the city.” Siena was an ambitious city seeking to become better. Florence and Siena were the two dominant republics at the time. The Black Death stroke in 1347. “It hit so hard you could lunch with your friends and dine with your ancestors in Heaven.” The Black Death was one of the biggest natural disasters known today, killing eighty percent of Siena’s population in a matter of months. “The Black Death marked the ending of its major international role, but marks the beginning of Florence’s rise to power.” Florence was not immune when the Black Death hit. As a result of this, it would take the region nearly half a century to recover. The recovery, however, would be like one the world had never seen, the Renaissance!

There was a huge appetite among the survivors to explore life.
“The Renaissance changed the world in almost every way one could think of. It brought a kind of snowball effect: each new intellectual advance paved the way for further advancements.” In the 1400’s, Filippo Brunelleschi was able to complete the unfinished Dome left by Arnolfo Dicambio in the 1200’s. He not only changed the entire idea of building but also made the entire field of architecture and design. Brunelleschi became an architect at the age of 30. He spent two decades studying great structures in the Roman Empire. The Italians were very fascinated with the way Romans did everything and buildings were no
exception.

Brunelleschi was very willing to take risks.
“Having studied the Roman buildings for two centuries, Brunelleschi could have easily copied their architecture but he did not.” He brought about a new idea by building and designing the Dome without the traditional tools. Brunelleschi also dealt with and taught his opposing architects his plans. Brunelleschi’s plan was to build a dome within a dome, which was completed in 1400. He later innovated a cornerstone still used in architecture today. “Brunelleschi realized that by placing three dimensional buildings on a two dimensional plane, they would disappear at a point called the vanishing point.” This idea proved that the apparent size of an object would decrease with the distance from the eye. Brunelleschi’s new realization later brought about the invention of the blueprint.

“In England, the Renaissance was slow to progress because the English language was in a state of flux, between twelve and fifteen dialects vying for primacy.” There was no standard spelling. However, the Printing Press changed it all in 1454. Writers were now able to share their works not only to a select few but also to the world. “The Printing Press was created by Johannes Gutenburg, a German
blacksmith.” Prior to his invention, many books were made by hand. The words were copied and illustrations were all drawn on parchment paper and animal skins, that were dried and scraped until they were smooth. This, of course, made books very expensive. On the other hand, The Printing Press could produce books very quickly with little effort, making books less expensive. With the knowledge in the books, many people were empowered and as a result many changes were made. “People began to record their findings and to publish them for the future generations’ benefit.” Knowledge began to spread very quickly but most importantly, accurately. “As the demand for books grew, people began to demand them in many different languages.”

Renaissance literature started with a renewed interest in the classical Greek and Roman learning. “The invention of the Printing Press