Characteristics of the Renaissance

The characteristics of rebirth are humanism, rationalism, individualism, anthropocentrism, scientism, universalism and the art of Classical Antiquity.

It was an artistic and philosophical movement that emerged in Italy in the 15th century.

It represented one of the most important changes in mentality in the history of humanity, as several areas of knowledge were renewed, such as philosophy, politics, economics, culture, arts, science, among others.

Key Features

1. Humanism

The humanist movement emerges as a motto for the appreciation of the human being and human nature, where anthropocentrism (man at the center of the world) was its main characteristic.

Humanism was an intellectual current that stood out in philosophy and the arts and that developed the critical spirit of the human being.

2. Rationalism

In defending human reason, this philosophical current was important to develop various aspects of Renaissance thought to the detriment of medieval faith.

With him, empiricism or the appreciation of experience were essential for the change of mentality in the renaissance period. This current asserted that human and natural phenomena should be proven in the face of rational experiences.

Note that rationalism is closely related to scientific expansion, so it seeks an explanation for the facts, based on science. In other words, reason is the only way to get to knowledge.

3. Individualism

It represented one of the important characteristics of the renaissance associated with the humanist movement.

Man is placed in a central position and becomes governed, not only by the church, but also by his emotions and choices. Thus, he becomes a critical being and responsible for his actions in the world.

4. Anthropocentrism

To the detriment of medieval theocentric thinking, where God was at the center of the world, anthropocentrism (man as the center of the world) appears to value various aspects of the human being.

Reason becomes the instrument by which human beings must guide their actions. Although religion continues to be very important, human intelligence was exalted in the face of the various scientific discoveries of the time.

In this way, reinforced by individualism, man takes on a centralized position and this drives him to dare in learning and in scientific discoveries or new lands.

5. Scientism

In a time of effervescence, the concept of scientism was of paramount importance to change the mentality of man and bring to the fore questions about the knowledge of the world.

They stand out as great thinkers and scientists of that period:

• Nicholas Copernicus:astronomer and mathematician
• Galileo Galilei:astronomer and physicist
• Johannes Kepler:astronomer and mathematician
• Andreas Vesalius:physician, “father of anatomy”
• Francis Bacon:Philosopher and Scientist
• Rene Descartes:philosopher and mathematician
• Leonardo da Vinci :artist, scientist, mathematician, inventor
• Isaac Newton:astronomer and scientist

6. Universalism

It was developed above all in Renaissance education corroborated by the development of human knowledge in various areas of knowledge.

Renaissance man seeks to be a "polymath", that is, one who specializes in several areas. The greatest example of a polymathic figure of the Renaissance was undoubtedly Leonardo da Vinci.

It is worth mentioning that in the Renaissance period, there was an expansion of schools, colleges and universities, as well as the inclusion of subjects related to the humanities (languages, literature, philosophy, among others.)

7. Classical Antiquity

The resumption of classical values ​​was essential for the study of the humanists. One of the facts that greatly facilitated the study of the classics was the invention of the printing press, since the rapid reproduction of works helped in the dissemination of knowledge.

According to scholars of the time, the philosophy and arts developed during ancient Greece and Rome had great aesthetic and cultural value, to the detriment of those of the Middle Ages.

What was the Renaissance?

The Renaissance (or Renaissance) was a period of transition between the Middle Ages and the Modern Age, occurring between the 14th and 17th centuries.

Emerged in Italy, the Renaissance gets its name in the 16th century, in order to suggest that before that period, in the Middle Ages, science and art were extinct, which is not the case. Therefore, this term is currently disputed.

Anyway, this was a time when great progress was made in several fields of knowledge.

As factors that contributed to the emergence of the renaissance, specifically in the Italian Peninsula, we can highlight:

• emergence of a pre-capitalist economy;
• intensification of bourgeois values;
• presence of classical art and tradition in Italian cities;
• Italy's political division into city-states.

Learn all about the Renaissance period :

• Phases of Rebirth
• Renaissance:Characteristics and Historical Context
• Cultural Renaissance
• Artistic Renaissance
• Artists of the Renaissance