The Renaissance was a gradual process developed more or less from the fourteenth to the seventeenth century, first in Italy and later in norther Europe. It means “rebirth”: the “rebirth” concerned the study of classical literature ( Greek and Latin literature). Moreover, Renaissance thinkers often associate themselves with classical antiquity and dissociate themselves from the Middle Ages: according to them Middle Ages were set between two much more valuable historical periods.

A new birth was necessary to human being to find a balance between soul and body: in middle ages people were worried about salvation and middle ages' core vision wasn't able to assure a balance for people; so the rebirth was due to the realizing medieval core vision was not enough to reach balance.

Renaissance was not confined to a new interest and to a rebirth of the classics' study, it was also an age of new discoveries both geographical, intellectual and scientific: for example Copernicus attempted to prove that the sun was at the center of the planetary system, Christopher Columbus explored the new world, and it was evaluated the importance of the body, as can we see from renaissance's naked statues ( In Greek culture body was not considered a taboo as it was in Middle Ages ).

Moreover, some of the noblest ideals of Renaissance were best expressed by the movement known as Humanism, that gave renewed emphasis to life in this world instead of to the otherworldly (spiritual life associated with the Middle Ages).

In the Renaissance, the highest cultural values were usually associated with active involvement in public life, in moral, political, and military action, and in service to the state. Of course, traditional religious values coexisted with the new secular values: for example, some of the most important Humanists were Churchmen.

In conclusion, Renaissance was a gradual process that involved various areas and it represents the basis of Western culture.