The term renaissance means `re-birth' and indeed this was a movement instigated at a time when new ideas and emotions come into being. To many, this period represented an ascendance from the intellectual destitute and oblivion of the Middle Ages, a far-from enlightened (at least from the viewpoint of the Renaissance) epoch in history commonly known as the Dark Ages. Although this movement generally affected the wealthy and privileged, whilst the lives of the vast majority remained relatively unchanged, its impact on all faculties of life, society, politics, art, music, literature, and indeed human existence cannot be denied.

There were two significant Renaissance movements at this time. The first of which was the Mediterranean, particularly the Italian, Renaissance. This movement dealt with secularized notions and concepts, and was underlined by the abundance of artists and writers who set out to express themselves and their opinions, as never before...