Literacy has been defined as the ability to write or as the ability to write one’s signature. Before the Renaissance, the literacy rate had been as low as five to ten percent for males. Even, “some scribes had little understanding of what they were writing” (Grendier 431). The few people that actually could read, were the upper class who could afford private readings and writings. But during the Renaissance, the

The Renaissance was a period during which many people began to think and act in different ways. This time brought unimaginable creativity and new ways to look at every aspect of life. Nothing shows this more then the developments made in literature, political thought, and art. The changes in the Renaissance still affect the world today, and who knows where it would be if this explosion of ideas did not occur.

The factors that initially created Renaissance art were actually merchants, capitalism, and mostly, people starting to be creative. This phase of the Renaissance was stronger in more Italy then other countries, because Italy produced a greater volume or are than any other place did. “The newly rising Italian families were eager to surround themselves with courtly, late chivalric art.” (Gebhardt 22). Paintings were also now no longer just religious themes or of just the rich. Since there were more patrons of art, “the church was no longer the only patron of art; suddenly princes like Lorenzo de Medici were also buying art works…”(Robinson 71). The church, though, still stayed somewhat involved by commissioning textiles like priestly vestments, alter cloths, banners, and tapestries. Art it self changed physically, thanks to new inventions and techniques. Oil pants, which were stronger, heavier, and gave more colors to paintings, led to the new technique on drawing with better perspectives. The accuracy of paintings, especially of the anatomy, became more and more important through out the Renaissance. “For artists trying to copy nature, science meant a close look at anatomy – not only drawing from the model but also dissections” (Robinson 71). Even though it was not e

Some topics in this essay:
Catholic Church, Sir Thomas, Niccolo Machiavelli, Desiderius Erasmus, , Black Death, Middle Ages, Church Pope, Church” Wood, Christian Prince, literacy rate, renaissance literacy rate, private schools, grendier 109, ability write, afford private, grendier 432, renaissance literacy, political leaders, christian prince,