The video explores the Renaissance period, a time of remarkable social and cultural development that followed the crises of the Late Middle Ages, such as the Great Famine and Black Death. The Renaissance marked a rebirth in European history with Florence at its heart, becoming a hub for trade and cultural revival. The emergence of a middle class and innovations in art, philosophy, and the natural sciences are discussed, highlighting the pivotal role humanism and influential figures such as Francesco Petrarca played.

The Renaissance's flourishing era is further explained through its advancements in literature and exploration. The introduction of the Gutenberg Bible through the printing press significantly expanded European literacy. Meanwhile, explorers like Columbus and Vasco da Gama made groundbreaking journeys that revolutionized naval exploration. Figures like Leonardo da Vinci also rose to prominence, contributing extensively across multiple fields.

Main takeaways from the video:

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Key Vocabularies and Common Phrases:

1. cavalcade [ˌkævəlˈkeɪd] - (noun) - A formal procession of people walking, on horseback, or in vehicles. - Synonyms: (parade, procession, march)

Considering the cavalcade of disasters that befell Europe after the fall of the Roman Empire...

2. aristocracy [əˌrɪˈstɒkrəsi] - (noun) - A class of people holding exceptional rank and privileges, especially the hereditary nobility. - Synonyms: (nobility, elite, upper class)

It also freed up capital for the aristocracy to invest in fine arts and scholarly pursuits.

3. capital [ˈkæpɪtl] - (noun) - Wealth in the form of money or other assets owned by a person or organization or available for a particular purpose. - Synonyms: (wealth, resources, funds)

It also freed up capital for the aristocracy to invest in fine arts and scholarly pursuits.

4. infrastructure [ˈɪnfrəˌstrʌktʃər] - (noun) - The basic physical and organizational structures needed for the operation of a society or enterprise. - Synonyms: (framework, foundation, base)

The Roman focus on infrastructure aided this.

5. consolidation [kənˌsɒlɪˈdeɪʃən] - (noun) - The action or process of making something stronger or more solid. - Synonyms: (strengthening, solidification, unification)

Aiding this consolidation of influence was the reintroduction of a gold based currency, the Florin.

6. scholarly [ˈskɒlərli] - (adjective) - Involving or relating to serious academic study. - Synonyms: (academic, learned, intellectual)

It also freed up capital for the aristocracy to invest in fine arts and scholarly pursuits.

7. refugees [ˌrefjuˈdʒiːz] - (noun) - People who are forced to leave their country in order to escape war, persecution, or natural disaster. - Synonyms: (displaced persons, exiles, asylum seekers)

The Ottomans finally conquer Constantinople a year after his birthday, sending Greeks and refugees of war westward...

8. linear perspective [ˈlɪniər pərˈspɛktɪv] - (noun) - A type of perspective used by artists in which the relative size, shape, and position of objects are determined by drawn or imagined lines converging at a point on the horizon. - Synonyms: (depth perception, viewpoint, sight line)

Moving the popular styles of paintings away from the Byzantine era's sharp angularity toward natural forms and rhythms.

9. humanism [ˈhjuːmənɪzəm] - (noun) - A Renaissance cultural movement that turned away from medieval scholasticism and revived interest in ancient Greek and Roman thought. - Synonyms: (secularism, rationalism, enlightenment)

The idea that you should show faith in people's ability to know right from wrong and make better choices through better education emerged thanks to Francesco Petrarca, a devout Catholic who sought to unify the ideas of humanism and Christianity

10. polymath [ˈpɒlɪˌmæθ] - (noun) - A person of wide-ranging knowledge or learning. - Synonyms: (intellectual, learned person, Renaissance person)

Born in 1452, Leonardo da Vinci was provided the perfect set of circumstances to grow into a master artist, scientist, and excessively talented polymath.

The Renaissance Period Explained | All You Need To Know

After a series of tragedies known as the crisis of the late Middle Ages, including events such as the great Famine and Black Death, came a period of explosive social and cultural development. This period left such a mark on the history of Europe that it still shapes much of our modern world today. Known as the Renaissance, this period takes its name from the french word for rebirth. Considering the cavalcade of disasters that befell Europe after the fall of the Roman Empire, nothing could describe the Renaissance better than a complete rebirth of Europe. Considering the darkness it sprung out of, you might be wondering just how this miraculous period came about, or how long it lasted. We're here to answer those questions and a lot more you didn't even know you had about the Renaissance. This topic comprises hundreds of years of history. This video should be considered a crash course of some of the most need to know info about the Renaissance.

We must consider Rome first. The Roman Empire was spread throughout Europe, Asia and even parts of Africa, lasting from around 700 bc to around 1400 AD. Over 2000 years, as Rome spread far and wide, the emperors, like Caesar, exerted relentless control of the local tribes. Native cultures were weeded out, constantly replaced with what the Romans believed was a superior way of life. The roman focus on infrastructure aided this. They paved roads, built bridges, and enabled free movement of people, goods and even ideas. All things end, though, and once Rome fell, all of those things declined with the empire. Bit by bit. Food shortages began, famines hit much of Europe, and small kingdoms that occupied the roman power vacuum watched each other with intense uneasiness. While the plague decimated populations, it also freed up capital for the aristocracy to invest in fine arts and scholarly pursuits.

A lot of things were happening in Florence around this time. Even during the plague, great efforts were undertaken, such as creating the gates of paradise, a set of glorious bronze doors set into the Florence baptistry, hoping they might encourage God to go easy on Florence in terms of the plague. Unfortunately, the Black Death continued to spread, and the people of Florence tried everything from strong perfume to pills made of rose hips to fight the disease. As this all went down, the dark ages seemed like they might never go away.

While the dark ages can be said to have begun in Italy, with the fall of Rome, we can thank the people of Florence for the beginning of the Renaissance. What's so special about Florence? Though about halfway between Rome and Milan, Florence was one of the most robust sites of trade and commerce in Europe. The old roads that had broken down with the fall of Rome were recovered near Milan and new routes were established that solidified Florences role as an international power player. Aiding this consolidation of influence was the reintroduction of a gold based currency, the Florin. With Rome's collapse, the most common international currencies had been missing for around 500 years, and this new currency brought trade from all over the world. The Florentines even created a new form of bookkeeping that helped them corner ancient stock markets.

The wealth pouring into Florence created something new and exciting, the european middle class. These were people with disposable income, not burdened with constant labor or debts. Young people across Florence once again turned their sights to pursuing art and philosophy. Even the natural sciences, painting, sculpture, glasswork, poetry, architecture, and more forms of expression, all found a new life in Florence. Around this time, the first collections of humanist philosophy were written, marking a distinct change in the attitude of people living in this age. The idea that you should show faith in people's ability to know right from wrong and make better choices through better education emerged thanks to Francesco Petrarca, a devout Catholic who sought to unify the ideas of humanism and Christianity. His works were so influential and widespread that he was honored as an official poet of Rome, complete with a laurel wreath.

As men like Petrarch explored the subtler details of human experience, others appeared who wielded their own sets of artistic skills. People like Giotto di Bandoni created works such as the Life of Christ, moving the popular styles of paintings away from the byzantine era's sharp angularity toward natural forms and rhythms. Far away from Italy, the Dutch were experimenting with oil paints. Dutch artists like Jan van Eyck worked on mixing linseed oil with their pigments. Instead of fast drying egg whites. Gorgeous renderings of realism and vibrant color began to be produced with this slow drying medium. Works like the adoration of the lamp helped cement him as one of the most influential creators of the century.

The end of the 15th century birthed the careers of some of the very most influential people of the 14 hundreds whose works you may be familiar with. Born in 1452, Leonardo da Vinci was provided the perfect set of circumstances to grow into a master artist, scientist, and excessively talented polymath. The Ottomans finally conquer Constantinople a year after his birthday, sending Greeks and refugees of war westward into the greater european continent, bringing goods and ideas with them. A year after that, a critical development took place. The printing press was used to create the Gutenberg Bible, a mass produced literary work that opened the door to expanding european literacy to unheard of levels.

The Medici family assumed power in Florence with Lorenzo the Magnificent Medici. Bringing about the highest point of the Florentine Renaissance. Da Vinci studied in Florence under Andrea del Veraccio and learned sculpture and how to work with precious metals during this golden age. A year after Lorenzo the Magnificent took office, da Vinci began his professional career, which would give rise to some of the most famous artworks of all time. The Mona Lisa, the Last Supper and the vitruvian man all hint at the incredible anatomical and medical illustrations da Vinci eventually produced.

Of the main innovations of the 15th century, exploration was one of the most important. Sailors made some of the most groundbreaking discoveries in the last quarter of the 14 hundreds. Columbus reached the Bahamas in 1492 and Vasco da Gama doing what Columbus set out to do by reaching India in 1498. A year later, at the turn of the century, wars that had broken out near the end of the 14 hundreds saw France conquering Milan and bringing a treasure trove of italian art and ideas spilling into France.

Though Rome had fallen before the Black Death, the turn of the 16th century saw Julius II ascended to the papacy, which heralded the beginning of the Roman Golden Age. Half a decade later, Henry VIII assumed power in England, which set the stage for the Reformation, a spiritual movement that forever divided the european continent.

Earlier humanist thinking influenced this schism, as did the sacking of Rome, which prevented Henry VIII's divorce from Catherine of Aragon. In the mid 16th century, tensions caused by the Reformation were eased by the ascent of Elizabeth Tudor to the English throne. This brought about England's own golden age, which brought about education reforms that saw the enlightenment of the Renaissance continue in England, who spread her influence to fill some of the power void left by the end of the italian wars and brought Europe into a new age.

The rapid changes taking place over this extended time frame offers many lessons for us. Early investments in the arts and sciences helped bring Europe out of a seemingly endless period of darkness.

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