^ Thank you.|||The time period previous to the Renaissance, The Middle Ages, is interesting to talk about in comparison. The Roman Catholic Church controlled European society to a certain extent. The Pope had considerable influence over political and military issues. Religion was a necessity - part of the population%26#039;s culture and identity. Churches were frequently built across the landscape, as places of worship, study and peace.
The clergy prohibited investigations of deceased people%26#039;s anatomy for scientific purposes, so no knowledge could be gained regarding causes of death. This is a strong reason explaining why there was little progression towards medical advancement. The Medieval era was a period of time where there was small technological development and near zero improvements in any aspects of lifestyle. Hygienic practices since Rome had been lost - public baths no longer existed and aqueduct systems failed to work properly. Sewers were designed from Rome%26#039;s concepts but were far from being perfected. People were misinformed and there was irrational thinking.
To your question, the Renaissance era was a change in living conditions and gradual reform of church policies. Inventions and riches from naval expeditions helped stimulate European economy and encourage business and industry to set up. The one-person leadership of countries was derailed and democracy slowly took over in the more fortunate areas. The rights, opportunites and priveleges of the people had been raised drastically and it was the beginning of modern-day attitudes, values and beliefs.
Hope I helped.
Edit: Louise - mind your own business. Focus on your own contribution, instead of other peoples. I too could critisize your information, but I%26#039;m mature enough not to. Please grow up, thank you.|||The Renaissance was an era when people became obsessed with classical learning. It was thought that the Greeks and romans were the only people who had produced art, architecture and literature worth studying. The exquisite Gothic style of the medieval era was replaced with the heavy baroque style that copied classical buildings. Writers tried to copy the styles of classical authors, and those who did not, like Shakespeare, were looked down upon.
Far from being an era when single person government was replaced by democracy, the period of the so-called %26#039;Reniassance%26#039; was an era of great increase in political power of princes and kings, many of whom became far more powerful than they had been in the medieval era, when feudalism ensured that power was more spread about among a greater number of people. Life most certainly did not become more democratic during the %26#039;Renaissance%26#039;.
And living conditions for the poor declined during this period, due to the weakening of the feudal system and of the guilds which protected the interests of craftsmen in towns.
Nor is it true that there was more bathing during the Renaissance. There were actually public baths in medieval times, steam baths were particularly popular, and many of these were closed down during the %26#039;Renaissance%26#039;, henry VIII closed the ones in London, for instance.
And as for %26#039;rational thinking%26#039; the %26#039;Renaissance%26#039; and early modern period was the era when many people were persecuted as witches, which is hardly evidence of rational thinking.
