Meaning of Renaissance : The reawakening or the rebirth or be alive. This word has come from the French langauge word ‘Renissa’. In the 16th century beginning, Europeans in Medieval age, brought alive the inactive and almost dead ancient Roman and Greek civilization, the same is known as Renaissance. Definition of Renaissance
1. The French historian, Julian Michilet indicates about two attributable techniques— ‘World discovery and Human Discovery’. World discovery refers to fifteen and sixteen century geographical achievements wherein Atlantic, Pacific and Indian ocean opened up for trade and people of old world were introduced to new world of America and South Africa and Australia. With respect to Human Discovery the part of that human power was taken, by which he rejected Medieval ideology and settled for developmental and creative insight.
2. In the words of Sabine, “Renaissance is a collective expression, the utility of which began at the time of end of medieval period and beginning of contemporary phase, introspective of all mental changes.
3. Fisher has written ‘Humanitarian movement beginning in the field of religion for new vision establishment and new forms of art, paintings, development of humanistic. principles, scientific visions and innovation of printing, press, etc. specialities or characteristics in collective form is called cultural Renaissance. This is clear from the following outcome that Renaissance was such an intellectual and exemplary cultural movement in which human was freed from medieval bindings or bondages towards freedom of thinking.
The characteristics of Renaissance :
Following are the characteristics of Renaissance.
- Humanitarianism : The main characteristic of Renaissance was ‘Humanitarianism’. The meaning of Humanitarianism is—“Take interest in human life, introspect the human difficulties, respect humans, accept the importance of human life and strive to improve life, make it prosperous and elevated. Life is to be ascertained. Petrarch was founder of humanitarianism.
- Independent thinking or Freedom in thinking: In this era many thinkers opposed the tendencies of ignorance and presented the thought that to accept any word or expression, before that human should use his mind. This way independent thinking of mental powers as a prospect in the age of Renaissance is an important characteristic.
- Scientific reasoning : In the age of Renaissance, the enactment of thoughts by a technique or scientific reasoning was adhered to. The transformation by scientific consciouness is mentioned by ‘Francis Bacon’ (1561-1626 AD) in a prominent manner.
- Worship of still beauty : In the Renaissance period, the literature and arts dwelt on worship of still beauty. The humanitarian effect on the art and literature of this period is exactly depicted. Till then in art and literature the expectations of beauty and love was not reached. The presentation of beauty was given place in arts.
- Progress of arts : Construction of artistic buildings, sculptoures, music, painting and designing, etc. developed in this period. The two cities of Italy, ‘Florence’ and ‘Venice’ took the leading painting, sculpture and established art.
- The development of national languages : Renaissance gave repute and respect to the speaking of interactive language of people and through the medium of these languages, very quickly knowledge could be attained and thoughts could be expressed with ease.
