European History

A research guide, organized by time period, of European history from ancient history to post-WWII

Renaissance Overview

Bartholomeus van Bassen Renaissance Interior with BanquetersIn the 12th cent. a rediscovery of Greek and Roman literature occurred across Europe that eventually led to the development of the humanist movement in the 14th cent. In addition to emphasizing Greek and Latin scholarship, humanists believed that each individual had significance within society. The growth of an interest in humanism led to the changes in the arts and sciences that form common conceptions of the Renaissance.

Image: Bartholomeus van Bassen [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Selected Books