Introduction
The Italian Renaissance marked the end of one era in Europe and the start of a new one. For many people who lived in Italy between 1350 and 1550 Renaissance completely revolutionized Italy and established a new nation. It ushered in a moment in the history of Italy when people rediscovered a number of things, including effective learning. In addition, it was accompanied by various innovations and discoveries such as nicely constructed buildings.
The Spirit of the Renaissance Age
For some people, Renaissance was regarded as a period of recovery from various disasters that rocked Italy in the fourteenth century that included a poor political landscape and economic recession. As noted by Bartlett (25), Renaissance Italy represented an active and fast-growing nation that created numerous opportunities for the Italian people. Apparently, Italian cities were quickly transformed into political, economic, and social centers. During the Renaissance, people were mostly recognized for their abilities.
Clearly, the spirit of the people during the Renaissance age was that of progressive growth as individuals were mainly concerned with building a better future that they could be happy with. With a positive attitude, it became obvious that everyone was capable of accomplishing so much.
How Humanistic Ideals Impacted the Renaissance
The Renaissance was affected by humanistic ideals in a number of ways. First, individuals started to slowly detach themselves from their social classes and eventually broke down the feudal system. Scores of people also relocated to cities and opened businesses to sustain them. Individuals also embrace the art of reading as well as writing and no single person wanted to be seen as being lazy. The different business ventures that were started by those who moved to live in the cities later became very instrumental in producing a variety of products for consumers in the cities.
Arguably, the growth witnessed during the Renaissance period was mainly a result of people’s mindset and manner of thinking (Ruggiero 15). Many were open to changes and had a strong desire to try out new things and this helped to engineer the much-needed growth. At the start of the Renaissance, scholars in Europe discovered early writings of the Romans and Greeks and this helped to inspire growth among the people.
Piece of Art that is the Clearest Expression of the Spirit of the Age
As noted by Bayer (5), the most famous artworks of the Renaissance were made to celebrate love, marriage, and family. The one piece of art that best represents the spirit of the age is the Dome of Florence Cathedral. It was a public symbol of Florentine superiority during the early days of the Italian Renaissance. Furthermore, the structure demonstrates the importance of the Catholic Church in the Italy. Apparently, the Dome of Florence was an important symbol of Renaissance culture in Italy and was regarded highly by many. The Dome of Florence Cathedral is depicted by figure 1.
Conclusion
The discussion in this paper clearly indicates that historically, development has been as a result of the desire of men and women to explore new ways of living and doing things. To a large extent, the development agenda was driven by individuals at different levels in the society with a vision and motivated by the need to experience a better future.
Works Cited
Bartlett, Kenneth. The Civilization of the Italian Renaissance: A Sourcebook. Ontario, CA: University of Toronto Press, 2011. Print.
Bayer, Andrea. Art and Love in Renaissance Italy. New York: Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2008. Print.
Ruggiero, Guido. The Renaissance in Italy: A Social and Cultural History of the Rinascimento. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press, 2014. Print.