How did the
Renaissance and the Reformation influence the culture of England?
Answer: The Renaissance was a time of great intellectual growth and
rebirth -- in fact, the word Renaissance literally means "rebirth" in
French. This new era of enlightenment for Europeans began in Florence towards
the end of the 14th century, following the Middle Ages, and after the Black
Death wiped out nearly half of Europe's population. During the Renaissance, a
revolution in philosophy, science and mathematics dramatically changed arts and
culture in Europe.
Rise of Humanism
During the Middle Ages, individuals were expected to devote their lives
to the church above all else. In stark contrast, Renaissance humanists broke
free from medieval tradition to put focus on personal interests instead of
religious demands. Humanists emphasized the importance of worldly pleasures and
studied classic texts from philosophers like Plato and Aristotle for
inspiration.