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  3. Renaissance

Renaissance

The Renaissance, a vibrant period of European cultural, artistic, political and scientific “rebirth” after the Middle Ages, was led by people including Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Machiavelli and the Medici family.

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The Creation Of Adam (Sistine Chapel Ceiling In The Vatican)The Creation of Adam (Sistine Chapel ceiling in the Vatican), 1508-1512. Found in the collection of The Sistine Chapel, Vatican. Artist Buonarroti, Michelangelo (1475-1564). (Photo by Fine Art Images/Heritage Images via Getty Images).

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Renaissance

From Darkness to Light: The Renaissance Begins During the Middle Ages, a period that took place between the fall of ancient Rome in 476 A.D. and the beginning of the 14th century, Europeans made few advances in science and art. Also known as the “Dark Ages,” the era is often branded as a time of […]

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'The Last Supper', 1494-1498. Artist: Leonardo Da Vinci.'The Last Supper', 1494-1498. The mural painting was for the refectory of the Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie, Milan and was commissioned as part of a scheme of renovations to the church and its convent buildings by Da Vinci's patron Ludovico Sforza, Duke of Milan. The painting represents the scene of The Last Supper of Jesus with his disciples, as it is told in the Gospel of John, 13:21. From World Famous Paintings edited by J Grieg Pirie [W.& G. Foyle Ltd., London, 1938.] (Photo by The Print Collector/Getty Images)

Renaissance Art

Origins of Renaissance Art The origins of Renaissance art can be traced to Italy in the late 13th and early 14th centuries. During this so-called “proto-Renaissance” period (1280-1400), Italian scholars and artists saw themselves as reawakening to the ideals and achievements of classical Roman culture. Writers such as Petrarch (1304-1374) and Giovanni Boccaccio (1313-1375) looked […]

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Portrait of members of the Medici Family.

The Medici Family

Birth of the Medici Family The Medici story began around the 12th century when family members from the Tuscan village of Cafaggiolo emigrated to Florence. Through banking and commerce, the Medicis rose to become one of the most important families in Florence. Their influence had declined by the late 14th century, however, when Salvestro de […]

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Portrait of Niccolo Machiavelli after a Painting by Santi di Tito (Original Caption) Niccolo Machiavelli (1469-1527). Italian statesman and political philosopher. Portrait by Santi di Tito (1538-1603). Ca. 16th century.

Machiavelli

The Prince As leaders rapidly rose and fell, Machiavelli observed traits that, he believed, bolstered power and influence. In 1513, after being expelled from political service with the takeover of Florence by the Medici family, Machiavelli penned his outline of what makes an effective leader in The Prince. Unlike the noble princes portrayed in fairy […]

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How the Renaissance Influenced Reformation

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How the Renaissance Challenged the Church and Influenced the Reformation

As interest in cultural, intellectual and scientific exploration flourished, support for an all-powerful church diminished.

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How the Printing Press Changed the World

7 Ways the Printing Press Changed the World

In the 15th century, an innovation enabled people to share knowledge more quickly and widely. Civilization never looked back.

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Portrait of members of the Medici Family.

7 Things You May Not Know About the Medicis

Find out more about the Medici family, who encouraged the careers of such luminaries as Michelangelo and Galileo and whose members included popes, queens and a long line of dukes.

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The Creation of Adam from the Sistine Chapel ceiling by Michelangelo Buonarroti (Italian, 1475 - 1564); fresco, 1508 - 12. (Photo by GraphicaArtis/Getty Images)

9 Things You May Not Know About Michelangelo

Nine surprising facts about the Renaissance artist often called “the Divine One.”

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Videos


This Day In History: 04/23/1564 – William Shakespeare Born

Renaissance
1512

This Day in History: 11/01/1512 – Sistine Chapel Opens

Renaissance

This Day in History


1512

This Day in History: 11/01/1512 – Sistine Chapel Opens

Renaissance

This Day In History: 04/23/1564 – William Shakespeare Born

Renaissance
1512

Sistine Chapel ceiling opens to public

Renaissance
1564

William Shakespeare born

Renaissance
1633

Galileo is accused of heresy

Renaissance
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