The West in the World, 4th Edition (Sherman)

Chapter 10: A New Spirit in the West

Chapter Summaries

The cultural movement of the Renaissance emphasized the achievements of individuals, often at the expense of the majority of people. The artists, writers, and scholars of this rebirth looked to the Greek and Roman classics for inspiration, but at the same time, expressed an interest in the world around them. The Renaissance first emerged in the Italian city-states, the product of political turmoil and opportunities for individuals. As it spread northward, it was transformed by monarchies seeking to bolster their authority in the wake of the breakdown of the old feudal order. The greatest achievements of the Renaissance were in the fields of art, literature, and architecture, but the movement influenced politics as well. Rulers developed new military and diplomatic strategies, but often neglected the poor. This era constituted a break with the Middle Ages, and Europe stood on the threshold of the modern period.