Tess EricksonMs. GriffinCore 11/35/14The RenaissanceThe Renaissance was a period of "rebirth" and began with the citizens of Florence in Italy, Europe, in the 1350s. Significant events ended the Middle Ages, feudal life and led to the beginning of the Renaissance. The Middle Ages finally ended with the collapse of Rome around 1450 AD. Towards the end of the Middle Ages, trade expanded and the Silk Roads flourished with busy traders and merchants. This commercial behavior brought new ideas and goods to increasing numbers of people. Other events also led to this period, such as humanism, the plague, and the Hundred Years' War. Humanism was the thought of the potential for individual success and “being all that one can be.” The period of the plague was a period of death. The plague was a disease of fleas carried everywhere by rats. Flea disease spread and wiped out 25% of the population of Italy and Europe, and the Church was powerless to stop it. People now had the opportunity to start fresh, with new ideas and a new approach to things, including religion. The Hundred Years' War created instability and caused people to argue and then become more independent in their own thinking, which led to new ideas and inventions. The Renaissance has been called a "rebirth" period because it refers to the rebirth of classical art. ; the creativity, thinking and learning that took place during this time. This period corresponds to when the population declined after wars and plague and lasted from about 1350 AD until the mid-1600s. People seeking a better way of life influenced art and literature. learning during the Renaissance. They found this by reviving classical ideas of the past and previous civilization...... middle of paper ......ence and literature. Cervantes and William Shakespeare were two very famous poets. William Shakespeare brought deep human emotion into his writings and was able to inspire many writers after him. During the Renaissance, many achievements were made in painting, sculpture, engineering, science and literature. Figures such as Michelangelo, Raphael and Leonardo da Vinci made many advances in the field of painting. Donatello was an influential sculptor who made achievements in the art of sculpture. There were many new techniques in engineering and architecture such as printing and dome. Scientists have discovered the effect of the moon on the tide and much more in astronomy and anatomy. Finally, Shakespeare and Cervantes had many literary achievements during the Renaissance. The progress of the Renaissance had a huge impact on society and the world..