movement occurred in different periods with different emphasis. Where the impact with Italy was most strongly felt in fine arts,in of poets,scholars,artists and sculptors.There was in Florence a France it was literature and in England it was philosophy and drama. revival of interest in classical learning and rising of humanist ideas. And to spread the new ideas,libraries,academies were founded. Printing was invented. II.Renaissance in Italy The Renaissance reached its height in the 16th century with its centre moving to Milan,then to Rome,and created High 1.Historical Background Renaissance(1490-1530).Meantime by the beginning of the 16th century,Venetian art had come into being in full glory. Because of its geographical position,foreign trade developed early in Italy.This brought Italy into contact with other cultures and 2.The Rise of Humanism gave rise to urban economy and helped Italy to accumulate wealth As wealth grew in Italy,there grew an increasing interest in which was an essential factor for the flowering of art and literature. other pursuits.Universities,libraries,academies.were set up for Beginning from the 11th century,cities began to rise in central scholastic studies.There was time and money for things of beauty and north.Italy.But there existed rivalry among the cities and they and breaths of art. were constantly at war with each other.On top of that there were Intellectuals who used to help training priests and spreading fightings between the papacy and the emperor which kept the country doctrines of Christian faith became closely tied up with the rising divided. bourgeoisie.They provided the new moneyed class with a new As time went on,the country was divided into city-states that philosophy and culture in harmony with their needs and aspiration. were ruled by princes of commerce maintaining a delicate balance of At the heart of the Renaissance philosophy was the assertion of power between one another,and an alliance that was comparable to the greatness of man.This is best summarized in the lines of modern international relations. Shakespeare: Towards the 15th century there were among the city-states five main ones-the Duchy of Milan,the Republic of Florence and What a piece of work is man;how noble in reason;how Venice,the papal states and the kingdom of Venice.They grew infinite in faculty,in form and moving how express and prosperous under such families as the Viscounti of Milan and the admirable;in action how like an angel;in apprehension how like Medici of Florence. a god! For two centuries beginning from the late fifteenth century, Florence was the golden city which gave birth to a whole generation 130 ①Hamlet,Ⅱ.i. 131