The Culture of Renaissance Italy

The culture of Renaissance Italy, spanning the 14th to 17th centuries, was a vibrant rebirth of art, science, and humanism, influenced by the revival of classical Greek and Roman ideals. Artists like Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo pushed creative boundaries, emphasizing realism and human emotion. Intellectuals promoted humanism, focusing on individual potential and secular subjects alongside religious themes. This period fostered advancements in literature, philosophy, and architecture, exemplified by works like Dante's "Divine Comedy" and the construction of St. Peter's Basilica. The flourishing merchant class in city-states like Florence and Venice also supported these cultural developments through patronage.