The Rise of the Human Spirit

From the 14th to the 17th century, Europe experienced a flourishing of art, science and culture, which ushered the continent into a new modern age. This period was known as the Renaissance.

Europe was ravaged by war, famine and disease before the 14th century, which led to the deaths of millions. The end of this tumultuous period allowed people to look beyond survival and venture into artistic and scientific pursuits.

This coincided with the expansion of trade networks to Asia, Africa and the Middle East as merchants travelled beyond the continent for the exchange of goods. Interactions with these societies exposed scholars to scientific and philosophical knowledge, which led to new ways of thinking.

Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei made important observations that challenged traditional views which saw Earth as the centre of the universe. This laid the foundation for the development of modern astronomy as we know it today.

Italian architect Brunelleschi took 16 years to build the Dome of the Florence Cathedral which was considered to be an engineering marvel of its time. The dome was built without a main support structure using innovative engineering techniques that are admired by architects even today.

The Renaissance bore witness to game-changing innovations, such as the printing press that paved the way for the mass production of books. Knowledge was now disseminated at a quicker rate, with the masses gaining access to information that they had not known before.

The glory of the Renaissance era has come to represent what man can achieve when we value and nurture the human spirit within us.