The Renaissance began in Florence, Italy, in the 14th century, often dated around 1350 to 1400. Florence was a major center due to its unique social, political, and economic conditions, including the patronage of the powerful Medici family and the influx of Greek scholars and texts after the fall of Constantinople. Early figures like Dante Alighieri and Francesco Petrarch played key roles in reviving interest in classical antiquity, laying the intellectual groundwork for the Renaissance. The movement initially flourished in Florence and then spread to other Italian city-states such as Venice, Milan, and Rome, before eventually reaching the rest of Europe
. In summary:
- The Renaissance began in Florence, Tuscany, Italy.
- The period started in the 14th century, with some pinpointing the early 1400s as a key moment.
- Key contributors included early humanists like Petrarch and artists such as Giotto.
- The Medici family's patronage and the arrival of Greek scholars helped fuel the cultural revival.
- From Florence, Renaissance ideas spread throughout Italy and then across Europe
