‘Renaissance’ means‘ re-birth’ and during this time Europe left behind the fixed ideas of the Middle Ages and created the beginnings of the modern world as we know it.
The civilizations of ancient Greece and Rome were rediscovered, inspiring an interest in Classical learning which challenged medieval beliefs and ideas. The population was becoming wealthier which led to an increase in trade and travel and the spread of new ideas.
The rise in prosperity also generated an interest in education, supported the flourishing of the arts and promoted scientific discoveries and new inventions. Perhaps the most important of these was the printing press which enabled books to be printed rather than hand-written, and allowed the distribution of information to a much wider audience than ever before, further fuelling the clamour for more knowledge.
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