Page 72 - Red Feather Book 2

Gutemberg
Extension to History. The Renaissance.
FRom the 14th through the 16th centuries Europe was experiencing a rediscovery of the Greco-Roman culture. Europe was emerging from the Middle Ages and experiencing financial and cultural growth.
The people of that era said it was a rebirth of knowledge. That is why that period is known as Renaissance, which in French means “rebirth”.
The creation of the Gutenberg printing press was a milestone that marked the beginning of the Renaissance; this invention allowed communication though all Europe. It is hard to imagine that before this great invention all books and music had been copied by hand into manuscripts.
The art of studying and recovering the Greek and Roman culture was known as Humanism. Humanism teachers began to replace clergy teachers.
Florence was the city where it all began. The city was ruled by a very wealthy family known as the Medici family; they were fair and effective rulers. This made Florence a wealthy
and advanced city. The members of the Medici family were great supporters of Humanism, they encouraged art and culture.
Italy was the center of world culture. Everything was changing during the Renaissance, art, science, literature, even religion.
When people from Western Europe visited Italy they were amazed by their way of life and their advances in art, literature, science and customs. They began to invite artists and scholars to their countries so they could improve their own education.
Great artists flourished during this time, Leonardo Da Vinci is
Romeo and Juliet 69 by William Shakespeare.
A simplified version by Charles and Mary Lamb.