The Renaissance and Reformation in Europe study guide explores a transformative period spanning 1300-1600, marked by significant cultural, intellectual, and economic changes.
• The era witnessed a shift from medieval values of humility and poverty to new aspirations for wealth and status
• Impact of humanism on Renaissance art and music revolutionized creative expression through individual talent and secular themes
• Causes of the Renaissance and its effects on Europe included the decline of feudalism, rise of monarchies, and emergence of a wealthy middle class
• Italy's position as the epicenter of Renaissance was due to its Roman heritage and prosperous merchant class
• Technological advances like the printing press facilitated widespread knowledge dissemination
