Renaissance is rebirth in French. We use it to describe a period from the early 1400's to the late 1700's. This era is described as rebirth for many reasons.
1) Before the Renaissance, Europe was in a period called the Middle Ages, which were way boring in comparison.
2) During the Renaissance, many new painting techniques were used, different things were invented, scientific discoveries took place, new lands were explored, and questions were asked that had never been asked before.
So, basically, the Renaissance is the era in which the European people began to hunger for knowledge. They studied, experimented, and explored for this knowledge. What they learned changed the way the world does things.
Where did this all start?
This hunger for knowledge began in Florence, Italy in the 1400's. One of the individuals who influenced others to try to learn about the world around them was none other than Leonardo Da Vinci. He was born in the center of it all - 1452 in Florence.
Other people, of course, influenced this historic era as well.
Johann Gutenburg invented the printing press.
Columbus set sail to find another route to Asia.
William Shakespeare wrote the most famous literature of all time.
Galileo began his scientific discoveries.
Mozart composed his brilliant joyous music.
The accomplishments of this era are infinite!