The age of Transition

The age of Transition

The period of time from the 1350 to 1650 in Europe has been called the "Age
Of Transition."   A group of people known as the middle class played a
significant role during this time, and more specifically in the Renaissance, the
Protestant Reformation, the Commercial   Revolution, and the rise of national
monarchies.   Around the mid 14th century, Italy began to grow rich from
trade with the Middle East.   There was an obvious geographical advantage,
and Italian traders were taking advantage.   A wealthy and powerful group of
merchants and   bankers emerged as the new middle class.   For the first time,
common people had the time and money to pursue outside interests.   These
interests included the arts and education.                              

The Renaissance was a rebirth of Greek and Roman ideas.   Ideas such
as Humanism, Individualism, and naturalism became important to many.
Painters, sculptors, and architects created many fine works which reflected
these ideas.   Some of the middle class created art themselves, but most used
their money to support the work of artists.   The Medici's were a wealthy
Italian family who supported many great artists in the northern Italian city of
Florence.  

The Protestant Reformation also brought about great changes in
Europe. Before this time, any religious writings (including the Bible) were
only written in Latin.   Books had to be copied by hand, so they were very
hard to come by.   Two things happened that changed that. First, in 1450
Johann Gutenberg printed the first European book with movable type.   Also,
in the 1520's Martin Luther translated the New Testament from Latin to
German.   For the first time, middle class Europeans could not only afford a
Bible, but they could read it too, because it was written in a language that
they could understand.   This had dramatic effects.   People no longer relied on
the clergy for biblical enlightenment. They could now read it themselves.

      Towards the...