Renaissance Actually Means a Revival.

¶ … renaissance actually means a revival. When it is capitalized, of course, it typically refers to the Italian Renaissance during the 14th and 15th centuries. There were similar revivals of knowledge and learning in other parts of Europe around the same time that are also associated with the capitalized version of this term. This term refers to the revival of science, knowledge, art, and learning that took place during the aforementioned time period.

What happened during the Italian Renaissance in the fields of art and literature in this epoch was essentially a reawakening of artistic and literary expression after the relative quiescence of the dark ages. Italian art and literature began to thrive again during the Renaissance. Education was extremely important to leading members of the Renaissance because this time period was all about a revival of artistic expression and education.

It was not enough for individuals to simply excel in art; they attempted to excel in various educational disciplines as well since this was the period in which artists and artisans served utilitarian purposes. Renaissance figures viewed the contributions of the classical period and the medieval period as important to what they were doing during the Renaissance. Those early contributions (especially the former) provided the basis of learning, knowledge, and art that the Renaissance was attempting to revive.

The Renaissance view of humanity and human abilities was in direct opposition to that held of these things during the medieval period, for the simple fact that during that latter time period there was a general mystification and reverence for God that eclipsed anything human. The Renaissance was the era in which this regard shifted from God's ability to man's.

The ideals of Italian Renaissance humanism were based on the central place that man occupied in the world and in the universe, and in man's prowess as opposed to the largess or ability of God. Martin Luther was offended by the widespread corruptions of the papacy; specifically the proclivity of Popes to engage in governmental matter. He also took instances with widespread practices of simony, the selling of indulgences, and issuing church positions based on money and influence.

According to Luther, the individual source of religious authority was God as evinced within the Bible. He believed that the numerous manmade religious positions were actually obfuscating these initial points upon which Christianity was founded. Luther believed that salvation was gained by accepting Jesus Christ and his teachings. Since Jesus crucified and resurrected for the sake of humanity, all people had to do was simply believe in this Christ and live in according to his teachings. Luther advocated religious freedom for individual Christians.

He did so because he believed the Roman Catholic Church was corrupt, and that faith in Jesus and his sacrifice was the ultimate form of liberalization for.