Originally posted by Bardock42
They certainly have their foundations there, but they do go a little further as well, don't you think?
Renaissance (rĕnəsäns′ , –zäns′ ) [Fr.,=rebirth], term used to describe the development of Western civilization that marked the transition from medieval to modern times. This article is concerned mainly with general developments and their impact in the fields of science, rhetoric, literature, and music. For a discussion of developments in the arts see Renaissance art and architecture.Historical Background
In the 12th cent. a rediscovery of Greek and Roman literature occurred across Europe that eventually led to the development of the humanist movement in the 14th cent. In addition to emphasizing Greek and Latin scholarship, humanists believed that each individual had significance within society. The growth of an interest in humanism led to the changes in the arts and sciences that form common conceptions of the Renaissance.
Rediscovering classic learning and thoughts led Europe out of the middle ages and into the future. That's not ALL of what it was about, but certainly the main staple of it.
The Renaissance led to the Age of Enlightenment. And the age was noted for neo-classicism.
So the point is, Western civilization has foundations in ancient Greco-Roman society and thought. That's why if you take a Western Civ class, they start there. They don't discuss the nomadic Finn tribes or the Germanic barbarians or how eskimos learned to melt snow with shit... they discuss the ancient Roman and Greek politicians, scholars, and so on. Look at every western government- from Napoleon to the United States to Modern day France- all have strong influences from those time periods. History repeats itself.
Originally posted by Janus Marius
The Renaissance led to the Age of Enlightenment. And the age was noted for neo-classicism.So the point is, Western civilization has foundations in ancient Greco-Roman society and thought. That's why if you take a Western Civ class, they start there. They don't discuss the nomadic Finn tribes or the Germanic barbarians or how eskimos learned to melt snow with shit... they discuss the ancient Roman and Greek politicians, scholars, and so on. Look at every western government- from Napoleon to the United States to Modern day France- all have strong influences from those time periods. History repeats itself.
But I think it goes way beyond that. Yes, Greek and Roman culture is the foundation of it...but I think it evolved further. Based in it yes, the sole definition of it, I don't think so.