¶ … Renaissance: A Comparison between the Italian and Northern European Renaissance

World history is a fascinating subject, especially when one takes into account the multi-dimensional, often heavy impact changes that are constantly taking place, and that often change the course of history in a way in which it could have never been imagined. After the Dark Ages, for instance, the Renaissance or "rebirth," a period of artistic-related growth across Europe, was one such change that literally pulled Europe out of the deterioration in which it found itself after the fall of the Roman Empire, and put it on a path of regrowth that was so replete with creativity that many scholars are still talking about it today. In order to better understand these historical changes, this paper will examine the Renaissance, for it was a very complex movement, in order to understand it better, and will do so by comparing the Italian and North-European Renaissance by addressing similarities and differences in the two fields.

In Italy, the Renaissance came toward the end of the 14th century, with a number of Italian intellectuals and artists beginning to think about this period as a "new age." This "rebirth" they stated, was in learning, literature, art and culture. During this period, Italy was very different from other European places that existed during the age that, as one can see below, had their own Renaissance movements. Yet in the divided, city-state based Italy, Florence led the way. Due to the wealth of this city, men of power became patrons of artists and intellectual, leading their independent republic to become a leading city in helping the movement grow.

Due to the patronage of these wealthy individuals, Italian painters, writers and scientists...

Many wanted to study classical wisdom, which they believed held the most important lessons. Humanism, or a view upon man as being the center of the universe, encouraged knowledge and experimentation, and these concepts soon replaced superstition and scientific lack of knowledge.
It is during this period that the most famous names in history are born, namely DaVinci, Galileo, Brunelleschi, just to name a few, who contributed to our knowledge of physics, anatomy, the universe and architecture, among other things.

In the North great developments were taking place as well. For instance, there was also an emphasis here on innovation, especially scientifically. Perhaps the most important technological development of this period took place in Germany, where Johannes Gutenberg "invented the mechanical movable-type printing press in the middle of the 15th century. For the first time, it was possible to make books -- and, by extension, knowledge -- widely available."

Thus, both in the South, in Italy and in the North, in Germany there were many scientific and technological innovations taking place, thus evidencing the similarity between the two places.

Despite the above mentioned similarity between these two regions, it is important to also note differences. For instance, in the North, Martin Luther began a huge religious movement known as the Reformation, which was a cultural and social different that still persists between the two regions.

Another difference was the fact that in the North, many movements took a different focus, even if artistic, intellectual, or scientific. Despite that fact…