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Analyse the major features of Renaissance

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What are the main features of the Renaissance ?

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Main characteristics of the Renaissance include rediscovery, especially through expanded trade, which furthered access to knowledge of ancient Greece and Rome. An emphasis on secularism emerged as well, especially in terms of man. The printing press led to increased knowledge about the past, and the rise of nation-languages, such as English, French, and German, led to nationalism instead of Christendom.

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PHOLLAND14 eNotes educator| CERTIFIED EDUCATOR

The Renaissance was a time of rediscovery. Thanks to successful trading trips to the Middle East, more Europeans had access to ancient Greek and Roman learning. Another thing that accelerated this learning was the fall of Constantinople in 1453. As more Greek and Roman scholars came west, more people were curious to learn about ancient times. While the Church was still quite powerful, literature took on more of a secular tone. Erasmus's In Praise of Folly and Machiavelli's The Prince demonstrate a humanism which was rare in previous works of literature. These works of literature put the works of man in the center; while religion was not entirely discounted, man was the centerpiece. Also, new scientific works were being printed revealing the thoughts of ancient philosophers and medical practitioners. As the trade caravans and voyages became more common, Europeans thirsted for travelogues as well. The printing press made all of these works more widely available, and they were printed in the languages of the people rather than the classical Latin written by clergy and government officials. The rise of English, French, and German languages would also lead to the rise of nationalism within these countries. People began to see themselves as less a part of Christendom and more a part of a nation-state.

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