{"id":2481,"date":"2018-08-22T03:06:50","date_gmt":"2018-08-22T03:06:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/crunchlearning.com\/website_ec2cbfb0\/?p=2481"},"modified":"2026-03-16T11:01:10","modified_gmt":"2026-03-16T11:01:10","slug":"causes-of-the-renaissance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/crunchlearning.com\/website_ec2cbfb0\/causes-of-the-renaissance\/","title":{"rendered":"Causes of the Renaissance: A Detailed Summary"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>The main causes of the <a href=\"https:\/\/crunchlearning.com\/website_ec2cbfb0\/category\/renaissance\/\" data-type=\"category\" data-id=\"48\">Renaissance<\/a> combined to allow the emergence of advances in art, science, literature and politics. Historians have identified several causes for the emergence of the Renaissance following the <a href=\"https:\/\/crunchlearning.com\/website_ec2cbfb0\/category\/middle-ages\/\" data-type=\"category\" data-id=\"46\">Middle Ages<\/a>, such as: increased interaction between different cultures, the rediscovery of ancient Greek and Roman texts, the emergence of\u00a0humanism, different artistic and technological innovations, and the impacts of conflict and death.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"Causes of the Renaissance - Video Infographic\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/9zP6yRiGeFo?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:50px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">WHAT WAS THE RENAISSANCE?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The\u00a0Renaissance\u00a0was an important event in European history that stretched from the 14th century to the 17th century.\u00a0 It was preceded by the\u00a0Middle Ages\u00a0in Europe and eventually led to the major events of the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/crunchlearning.com\/website_ec2cbfb0\/age-of-enlightenment-overview\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"3848\">Age of Enlightenment<\/a>.\u00a0 In historical terms the Renaissance is important because it led to a major shift in European thought and worldview.\u00a0 While the Renaissance is considered to have begun in the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/crunchlearning.com\/website_ec2cbfb0\/renaissance-city-states\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"2495\">city-states of the Italian peninsula<\/a>\u00a0in the 14th century, the main ideas of the movement eventually <a href=\"https:\/\/crunchlearning.com\/website_ec2cbfb0\/how-did-the-ideas-of-the-renaissance-spread\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"2521\">spread to all of Europe<\/a> by the 16th century.\u00a0 The most significant changes that emerged as a result of the Renaissance can be seen in European architecture, art, literature, mathematics, music, philosophy, politics, religion and science.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"798\" height=\"720\" src=\"https:\/\/crunchlearning.com\/website_ec2cbfb0\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Renaissance-City-States-Map.png\" alt=\"Renaissance City-States Map\" class=\"wp-image-4398\" srcset=\"https:\/\/crunchlearning.com\/website_ec2cbfb0\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Renaissance-City-States-Map.png 798w, https:\/\/crunchlearning.com\/website_ec2cbfb0\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Renaissance-City-States-Map-300x271.png 300w, https:\/\/crunchlearning.com\/website_ec2cbfb0\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Renaissance-City-States-Map-768x693.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 798px) 100vw, 798px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Renaissance City-States Map by History Crunch<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:50px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">CAUSES OF THE RENAISSANCE &#8211; INCREASED INTERACTION<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The first main cause of the Renaissance was the increased interaction between different cultures and societies in the time before and during the start of the Renaissance.\u00a0 This is important because at the time Europe was in the midst of the Middle Ages.\u00a0 The Middle Ages (or Medieval Period) had several key features such as:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/crunchlearning.com\/website_ec2cbfb0\/feudalism\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"4039\">feudalism<\/a>\u00a0and devout religious faith in the form of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/crunchlearning.com\/website_ec2cbfb0\/christianity-history\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"4312\">Christianity<\/a>.\u00a0 These features (along with others) combined to form a society that was very rigid socially, religiously, and politically.\u00a0 This means that European society at the time was not necessarily open to change.\u00a0 However, the essence of the Renaissance was that Europe experienced a shift in worldview and perspective.\u00a0 This shift was caused by new ideas, views and beliefs that Europe was exposed to in the centuries before the start of the Renaissance, which began in the 14th century.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>First, vast trade networks across Europe, Asia and Africa led to increased interaction between different societies which caused not only an exchange of goods, but also an exchange of people, beliefs, ideas and values.\u00a0 The largest and most well known of these trade networks was the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/crunchlearning.com\/website_ec2cbfb0\/silk-road\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"2489\">Silk Road<\/a>.\u00a0 It is perhaps one of the earliest and largest trade networks in human history, and played a vital role to many different civilizations throughout Eurasia from approximately 120 BCE to 1450 CE.\u00a0 At its height, the Silk Road stretched from Japan and China in the east to the Mediterranean area including Italy in the west, which was a span of over 4000 miles.\u00a0 Along the way it travelled through many different regions including: India, Persia, the Middle East, Africa and Eastern Europe.\u00a0 <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There were many different civilizations that participated in the Silk Road over the centuries of its existence.\u00a0 Obviously, Chinese and Mongol traders played an important role in the Silk Road, as many of their goods were highly desired in faraway markets, such as Europe.\u00a0 Therefore, European traders often travelled to areas in the Middle East to secure rare and desirable products, from the far East.\u00a0 For their part, the traders of the Middle Eastern civilization were essentially the middle men who traded goods from both sides.\u00a0 While the Silk Road is generally remembered for the food and goods that were traded along the route, it is important to understand that the Silk Road also involved the exchange of ideas.\u00a0 As mentioned earlier, the Middle Eastern civilizations became major centers of learning and knowledge during this timeframe.\u00a0 For example, mathematicians from the Middle East used knowledge from eastern areas such as India to refine and improve mathematics, including methods that are still used today.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Furthermore, religious and philosophical beliefs from the time period spread easily along the routes and had a profound impact on later events such as the Renaissance.&nbsp; For instance, after the Islamic faith originated in the Arabian Peninsula in the 7th century it quickly spread throughout the Middle East, Africa and even into parts of Europe, as traders brought their faith with them on the Silk Road.&nbsp; This influx of new ideas inspired people in Europe including artists, writers, philosophers and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/crunchlearning.com\/website_ec2cbfb0\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Silk-Road-Map-1024x576.png\" alt=\"Silk Road Map\" class=\"wp-image-4403\" srcset=\"https:\/\/crunchlearning.com\/website_ec2cbfb0\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Silk-Road-Map-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/crunchlearning.com\/website_ec2cbfb0\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Silk-Road-Map-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/crunchlearning.com\/website_ec2cbfb0\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Silk-Road-Map-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/crunchlearning.com\/website_ec2cbfb0\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Silk-Road-Map.png 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Silk Road Map by History Crunch<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:50px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">CAUSES OF THE RENAISSANCE &#8211; THE CRUSADES<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The second main interaction that occurred before that start of the Renaissance was the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/crunchlearning.com\/website_ec2cbfb0\/crusades-overview\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"2603\">crusades<\/a>.\u00a0 They were a series of religious wars carried out by Christian crusaders from Europe during the timeframe of the\u00a0Middle Ages.\u00a0 <a href=\"https:\/\/crunchlearning.com\/website_ec2cbfb0\/first-crusade\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"2606\">Beginning in 1095 CE<\/a>, the crusades saw European knights and noblemen travel to the Middle East in an attempt to capture the <a href=\"https:\/\/crunchlearning.com\/website_ec2cbfb0\/holy-land-in-the-crusades\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"2639\">Holy Land<\/a> away from Muslim people that had controlled the region for the previous centuries.\u00a0 In reality, <a href=\"https:\/\/crunchlearning.com\/website_ec2cbfb0\/how-many-crusades-were-there\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"2652\">there were many different crusades<\/a>.\u00a0 Historians disagree on the exact number but in general, there were nine main crusades and many other smaller ones which occurred over a period of two centuries.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The crusades were a major event in the\u00a0Middle Ages\u00a0and had a profound impact on the world at the time.\u00a0 For example, one of the first major\u00a0impacts of the crusades\u00a0was that it increased interaction between different societies and groups of people.\u00a0 For instance, the crusades caused the religions of Christianity, Judaism and Islam to clash.\u00a0 In this conflict, people of all faiths traveled\u00a0vast distances to fight over the <a href=\"https:\/\/crunchlearning.com\/website_ec2cbfb0\/why-was-jerusalem-so-important-in-the-crusades\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"2643\">city of\u00a0Jerusalem<\/a>, which each faith considered important to its religious heritage.\u00a0 This clash of religious ideals caused a sharing of ideas between the different religious groups and helped the principles of each religious faith to spread into new areas.\u00a0 Arguably, the clash between these three religions and this area of the world continues still today.\u00a0 Beyond religion, the interaction between different groups of people led to a spread of scientific and philosophical knowledge.\u00a0 The existence of the Silk Road had already caused a massive spread of ideas and knowledge across Eurasia, but the crusades continued and expanded the trend.\u00a0 At the outbreak of the crusades in the 11th century, the Middle East was a major center of learning and knowledge.\u00a0 Due to its geographical location, the major Middle Eastern civilizations were at the crossroads of the Silk Road and therefore benefited\u00a0greatly from having access to both European and Asian knowledge.\u00a0 As such, when European crusaders came into contact with Middle Eastern peoples they were exposed to new ideas and inventions which eventually made their way back into European society.\u00a0 For example, the Europeans learned new understandings about mathematics from Middle Eastern mathematicians who were by far the most advanced at that time.\u00a0 Also related to knowledge, the different societies involved in the crusades were exposed to each other\u2019s culture.\u00a0 This meant that each side learned new understandings about food, cultural practices and celebrations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/crunchlearning.com\/website_ec2cbfb0\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/First-Crusade-Map-1024x576.png\" alt=\"First Crusade Map\" class=\"wp-image-4368\" srcset=\"https:\/\/crunchlearning.com\/website_ec2cbfb0\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/First-Crusade-Map-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/crunchlearning.com\/website_ec2cbfb0\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/First-Crusade-Map-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/crunchlearning.com\/website_ec2cbfb0\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/First-Crusade-Map-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/crunchlearning.com\/website_ec2cbfb0\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/First-Crusade-Map.png 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">First Crusade Map created by History Crunch<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:50px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">CAUSES OF THE RENAISSANCE &#8211; REDISCOVERY OF ANCIENT TEXTS<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The next main cause of the Renaissance was the rediscovery by European thinkers of ancient Greek and Roman ideas and texts.&nbsp; For example, the term \u2018renaissance\u2019 in French means \u2018rebirth\u2019.&nbsp; This is in relation to the idea that the intellectual culture of the Renaissance was sparked by the rediscovery of these ancient philosophies and ideas which had largely been ignored in Europe throughout the Middle Ages.&nbsp; Many of these ancient texts were preserved by Islamic and Jewish cultures in the Middle East and were not rediscovered by Europeans until the time of the Renaissance.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>More specifically, famous Italian Renaissance scholar and humanist\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/crunchlearning.com\/website_ec2cbfb0\/petrarch\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"2580\">Petrarch<\/a>\u00a0(also known as Francesco Petrarca) is remembered for rediscovering the earlier work of Roman philosopher Cicero.\u00a0 Cicero was born in Italy in 106 BC and died in 43 BC.\u00a0 He is regarded as one of the most masterful writers of his time and the Latin language.\u00a0 Petrarch\u2019s rediscovery in the 14th century of Cicero\u2019s letters is considered to be the spark of the Italian Renaissance and inspired other European scholars to do the same and look to ancient texts.\u00a0 Petrarch considered the ideas present in Cicero\u2019s and other ancient texts as superior to the ideas present in Europe at the time of the Middle Ages.\u00a0 As well, Petrarch is considered to be the founder of the humanist movement during the Renaissance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In general, <a href=\"https:\/\/crunchlearning.com\/website_ec2cbfb0\/renaissance-humanism\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"2484\">Renaissance Humanism<\/a> was the study of ancient Greek and Roman texts with the goal of promoting new norms and values in society.\u00a0 These norms and views varied from those at the time because they focused\u00a0less heavily on a religious worldview.\u00a0 Instead, Renaissance humanists such as Petrarch use ancient texts to promote a worldview based on logic and reason.\u00a0 This was to be accomplished through the study of the\u00a0\u2018studia humanitatis\u2019, which today is known as the\u00a0humanities and includes topics such as: grammar, history,\u00a0poetry, and philosophy.\u00a0 Renaissance humanists such as Petrarch (and others including Erasmus of Rotterdam) promoted the idea that citizens should be educated in these topics in order to allow them to participate in the social and political life of their society.\u00a0 This was a fundamental shift from the feudalistic and religious life that was the reality for most people in the Europe in the Middle Ages.\u00a0 As such, Petrarch\u2019s actions are considered to be important to the emergence and growth of the overall Renaissance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/crunchlearning.com\/website_ec2cbfb0\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Petrarch-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Petrarch\" class=\"wp-image-6467\" srcset=\"https:\/\/crunchlearning.com\/website_ec2cbfb0\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Petrarch-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/crunchlearning.com\/website_ec2cbfb0\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Petrarch-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/crunchlearning.com\/website_ec2cbfb0\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Petrarch-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/crunchlearning.com\/website_ec2cbfb0\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Petrarch.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Photo of a statue of Petrarch on the Uffizi Palace, in Florence, Italy. (Creative Commons CC 4.0)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:50px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">CAUSES OF THE RENAISSANCE &#8211; INNOVATIONS<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The next main cause of the\u00a0Renaissance\u00a0in Europe was the different innovations of the time, especially in publishing and art.\u00a0 In terms of publishing, the printing press was one of the most significant innovations in all of world history.\u00a0 German blacksmith, goldsmith and printer\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/crunchlearning.com\/website_ec2cbfb0\/johannes-gutenberg\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"2590\">Johannes Gutenberg<\/a>\u00a0developed the first printing press in the mid-1400s and it quickly had a profound impact on the events of the Renaissance (as well as later events such as the Enlightenment).\u00a0 Prior to the printing press, books and other literature were created through a varied assortment of methods (woodblock press, etc.) which were all labor intensive and slow.\u00a0 Gutenberg\u2019s invention was the development of a hand mold\u00a0that allowed for precise movable type.\u00a0 This meant that he perfected the process of making movable type pieces for easily and quickly constructing type-font documents.\u00a0 This sped up the printing process and made it extremely affordable, which allowed for an explosion in the publishing and printing of books.\u00a0 For example, the Gutenberg Bible was the first book to be mass produced on the Gutenberg printing press.\u00a0 The invention and use of the printing press in Europe was important for the Renaissance because it allowed new ideas and worldviews to spread across the continent more easily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At its core, the Renaissance was about new ideas (such as&nbsp;humanism) overthrowing old views and customs (such as religious beliefs and practises and feudal traditions).&nbsp; Therefore, the invention of the printing press allowed these new ideas to spread and further enhance the overall Renaissance.&nbsp; Another important point about the printing press was that it challenged long held literacy and educational standards.&nbsp; With the mass production of books and other literature more poor and middle class people in Europe began to read.&nbsp; This allowed normal people to read and understand the new ideas from the scholars, writers and scientists of the Renaissance.&nbsp; Increased literacy challenged the power of the wealthy, nobility and the church, since they were the traditionally the only educated citizens.&nbsp; As well, the invention of the printing press would eventually have a profound impact on religious beliefs across Europe.&nbsp; Since more and more people could read they no longer had to depend on local priests and the Catholic Church for interpretation of the Bible.&nbsp; In fact, many people began to read and interpret the Bible for themselves.&nbsp; This ultimately led to the&nbsp;Protestant Reformation&nbsp;and fundamentally altered religious life for people in Europe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/crunchlearning.com\/website_ec2cbfb0\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Printing-Press-Gutenberg-1024x576.webp\" alt=\"Printing Press Gutenberg\" class=\"wp-image-4487\" srcset=\"https:\/\/crunchlearning.com\/website_ec2cbfb0\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Printing-Press-Gutenberg-1024x576.webp 1024w, https:\/\/crunchlearning.com\/website_ec2cbfb0\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Printing-Press-Gutenberg-300x169.webp 300w, https:\/\/crunchlearning.com\/website_ec2cbfb0\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Printing-Press-Gutenberg-768x432.webp 768w, https:\/\/crunchlearning.com\/website_ec2cbfb0\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Printing-Press-Gutenberg.webp 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">&#8216;Gutenberg Taking an Impression&#8217; by an unknown artist. (1904)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:50px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">CAUSES OF THE RENAISSANCE &#8211; RENAISSANCE ART<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Another dramatic innovation that led to the Renaissance was in the\u00a0artistic styles and methods used by Renaissance\u00a0painters.\u00a0 Today, the Renaissance is perhaps best known for the <a href=\"https:\/\/crunchlearning.com\/website_ec2cbfb0\/renaissance-art-and-artists\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"2524\">famous artists and their famous works of art<\/a>.\u00a0 Previous to the Renaissance, in the Middle Ages, art was much more stylized and focused on religious themes.\u00a0 This means that the art in the Middle Ages displayed humans and the world in a more unrealistic but stylized fashion.\u00a0 However, in the Renaissance, European artists were inspired to create paintings and sculptures that focused more on the realities of everyday life and real people.\u00a0 This was likely due to the influence of humanism that helped spark the Renaissance.\u00a0 Also, just as scholars such as Petrarch were inspired by earlier Greek and Roman workers, so too were Renaissance artists.\u00a0 This meant realism and the human form were important and central to the new styles of art.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Furthermore, Renaissance artists such as\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/crunchlearning.com\/website_ec2cbfb0\/leonardo-da-vinci-renaissance-artist\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"2550\">Leonardo da Vinci<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/crunchlearning.com\/website_ec2cbfb0\/michelangelo-renaissance-artist\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"2561\">Michelangelo<\/a>\u00a0pioneered new skills and techniques, such as linear perspective, that allowed them to portray people and the world in news ways.\u00a0 Linear perspective was the technique of providing realistic depth to an image.\u00a0 It involved\u00a0creating the illusion of depth by using angled lines and shadowing.\u00a0 Another technique from the Renaissance was sfumato.\u00a0 This was a painting technique whereby the painter would soften the lines and blend the different paints to create blurred areas.\u00a0 This is likely best displayed in da Vinci\u2019s famous \u2018<a href=\"https:\/\/crunchlearning.com\/website_ec2cbfb0\/mona-lisa-painting-by-leonardo-da-vinci\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"2564\">Mona Lisa<\/a>\u2019.\u00a0 The masterful work of art does not focus on religious themes or stylized depictions of the world but rather shows an unknown woman in a realistic fashion.\u00a0 In fact, throughout history the painting has been praised for its use of shading and blending to enhance the photo realistic\u00a0nature of the art.\u00a0 In addition, Michelangelo\u2019s famous sculpture \u2018David\u2019 displayed the human form in a realistic and proportional nature.\u00a0 Therefore, these innovations in art helped spread the Renaissance ideas as more artists across Europe adopted the new techniques and methods.\u00a0 As well, it helped people view human beings and life in a much different way than they had previously in the earlier centuries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/crunchlearning.com\/website_ec2cbfb0\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Mona-Lisa-Painting-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Mona Lisa Painting\" class=\"wp-image-6479\" srcset=\"https:\/\/crunchlearning.com\/website_ec2cbfb0\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Mona-Lisa-Painting-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/crunchlearning.com\/website_ec2cbfb0\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Mona-Lisa-Painting-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/crunchlearning.com\/website_ec2cbfb0\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Mona-Lisa-Painting-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/crunchlearning.com\/website_ec2cbfb0\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Mona-Lisa-Painting.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">&#8216;Mona Lisa&#8217; by Leonardo da Vinci. (Between 1503 and 1506)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:50px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">CAUSES OF THE RENAISSANCE &#8211; BLACK DEATH<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The final cause of the Renaissance was the impact of the\u00a0Black Death.\u00a0 The\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/crunchlearning.com\/website_ec2cbfb0\/black-death-overview\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"2661\">Black Death<\/a>\u00a0is one of the most important events in Western history and is the most famous pandemic in all of human history.\u00a0 A pandemic is the term used to describe the spread of an infectious disease over a wide area including the entire planet.\u00a0 The Black Death occurred during the 14th century and ravaged human populations throughout Asia and Europe as it spread along trade routes and through trading ports.\u00a0 Throughout history it has also been referred to as the \u2018Great Mortality\u2019 and \u2018Great Pestilence\u2019.\u00a0 The <a href=\"https:\/\/crunchlearning.com\/website_ec2cbfb0\/how-many-people-died-in-the-black-death\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"2669\">death toll of the Black Death<\/a> is a debated topic and different historians have offered different views on the issue.\u00a0 Regardless, the reported death tolls are massive with some suggesting that it resulted in the deaths of between 75 and 200 million people in Europe and Asia.\u00a0 These high numbers suggest that between 30% and 60% of people died due to the infectious disease.\u00a0 Some regions suffered more than others, but in general it is widely accepted that approximately half of Europeans died as a result of the disease.\u00a0 For example, it has been recorded that both Paris, France and London, England saw half of their populations succumb to the pandemic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/crunchlearning.com\/website_ec2cbfb0\/impacts-of-the-black-death\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"2672\">Black Death also had devastating results<\/a> in the Middle East and Asia with equally dramatic death tolls.\u00a0 While the Black Death was a horrific event that caused widespread death there were also several major developments during the time period of the Late Middle Ages and just before the start of the Renaissance.\u00a0 The Black Death is an important cause of the Renaissance because it caused people to question and challenge their own religious beliefs.\u00a0 This was because, at the time, there were no clear reasons for the spread of the disease and people did not understand how to stop it.\u00a0 As a result, many people suggested that it was god\u2019s will and used their religious understanding to explain its spread.\u00a0 As a result, this set the stage for some people to question the authority of the Catholic Church and allowed for new ideas and change to enter into European society.\u00a0 Furthermore, the large death rate of the Black Death caused massive changes in the population and wealth of Europe.\u00a0 Many people migrated out of certain areas when the plague spread and as a result, all of Europe was thrown into an upheaval.\u00a0 This ultimately shifted the balance of power and wealth in European societies and helped bring about the dominance of several city-states in Italy, which is where the Renaissance first began.\u00a0 As a result, the Black Death and its impacts can be viewed as a cause of the overall Renaissance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/crunchlearning.com\/website_ec2cbfb0\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Black-Death-Doctor-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Black Death Doctor\" class=\"wp-image-5502\" srcset=\"https:\/\/crunchlearning.com\/website_ec2cbfb0\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Black-Death-Doctor-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/crunchlearning.com\/website_ec2cbfb0\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Black-Death-Doctor-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/crunchlearning.com\/website_ec2cbfb0\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Black-Death-Doctor-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/crunchlearning.com\/website_ec2cbfb0\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Black-Death-Doctor.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A plague doctor wore very characteristic clothes during outbreaks of the plague. (1656)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:50px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>In conclusion, historians have identified several causes of the Renaissance in Europe, including: increased interaction between different cultures, the rediscovery of ancient Greek and Roman texts, the emergence of humanism, different artistic and technological innovations, and the impacts of conflict and death.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>There were several main causes of the Renaissance, including: increased interaction between different cultures, the rediscovery of ancient Greek and Roman texts, the emergence of\u00a0humanism, different artistic and technological innovations, and the impacts of conflict and death.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6608,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"iawp_total_views":176,"footnotes":""},"categories":[46,48],"tags":[85,84,15,83,82],"class_list":["post-2481","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-middle-ages","category-renaissance","tag-black-death","tag-crusades","tag-history","tag-middle-ages","tag-renaissance"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/crunchlearning.com\/website_ec2cbfb0\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2481","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/crunchlearning.com\/website_ec2cbfb0\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/crunchlearning.com\/website_ec2cbfb0\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/crunchlearning.com\/website_ec2cbfb0\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/crunchlearning.com\/website_ec2cbfb0\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2481"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/crunchlearning.com\/website_ec2cbfb0\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2481\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6609,"href":"https:\/\/crunchlearning.com\/website_ec2cbfb0\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2481\/revisions\/6609"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/crunchlearning.com\/website_ec2cbfb0\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6608"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/crunchlearning.com\/website_ec2cbfb0\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2481"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/crunchlearning.com\/website_ec2cbfb0\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2481"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/crunchlearning.com\/website_ec2cbfb0\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2481"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}