The Renaissance was a revival of Europe. In the realm of philosophy, as in literature and scholarship, the scholars of the Renaissance drew heavily on the works of Plato. Renaissance scholars also created the dicipline of critical scholarship, the careful linguistic and historical analysis of past literature. In the area of social and political thought, Renaissance scholars essentially paraphrased Greek and Roman classics, although there was some original work done such as Albertis On the Family.

The arts were probably the most significantly affected aspect of the Renaissance. Most of the famous artists and works that we know today come from the Renaissance and are marked by a return to a more classical style. Some major names from this period are Michelangelo, DaVinci, and Donatello.

Explanation of Picture (Santa Maria Novella 1456-70)

This building, named for Santa Maria Novella, is a perfect example of Renaissance architecture. Its facade by Alberti, with the geometric figures and symmetrical design, clearly displays the rebirth of interest in the Greek and Roman architecture of the classical period.