The Renaissance was a European cultural movement lasting roughly from the 14th to the 16th century, marked by a revival or "rebirth" of classical knowledge and wisdom from ancient Greece and Rome. It began in the Italian city-states such as Florence and Venice and spread throughout Europe, profoundly affecting art, science, literature, philosophy, and politics. The Renaissance emphasized humanism, focusing on the individual, realism, and the study of classical antiquity, which helped transition Europe from the Middle Ages to modernity. This period is known for great figures like Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo and innovations in art, science, and education. It also laid groundwork for scientific inquiry and the eventual Reformation.
