A Renaissance man, also known as a polymath, is a well-rounded individual gifted and skilled in many different areas. The term "Renaissance man" is used for a very clever person who is good at many different things, no matter when that person lived. The concept of a Renaissance man developed in Italy during the Renaissance period, which was marked by a revival of Classical learning and wisdom. The ideal embodied the basic tenets of Renaissance humanism, which considered man the center of the universe, limitless in his capacities for development, and led to the notion that men should try to embrace all knowledge and develop their own capacities as fully as possible.
A Renaissance man in the fifteenth or sixteenth century would be an intellectual philosopher, studying a wide variety of subjects. Usually, the Renaissance man would be a writer and an artist, as well as skilled in science or inventions and math. Often, but not always, the Renaissance man was also good at athletics, such as jousting. A Renaissance man may be formally educated, but could also be self-taught. Either way, a thirst for learning and knowledge was key.
Some examples of Renaissance men include Leonardo da Vinci, who was an accomplished artist, scientist, inventor, and writer, and Albert Schweitzer, who was a theologian, musician, philosopher, and doctor. Today, the term "polymath" is a popular alternative to Renaissance man, and it can be used for anyone who is very clever at many different things.
