Europe was in a state of economic, political, and social stagnation. Feudal Europe was characterized by a rigid social hierarchy dominated by the nobility, political instability, warfare among states, and widespread disease. The Catholic Church was the dominant religious and political force, and intellectual thought was suppressed. The Crusades had increased contact with the East and Middle East, which brought new influences and ideas. The Renaissance was a period of cultural, artistic, and intellectual revival that began in Italy in the 14th century and spread throughout Europe. It marked the transition from the Middle Ages to the modern era and was characterized by the rediscovery of classical Greek and Roman literature, philosophy, and art, as well as scientific advances and exploration of the world.