Loys Le Roy

French humanist scholar Loys Le Roy (1510?–1577) was a noted historian who pioneered the study of comparative cultures and translated the works of Greek philosophers Plato and Aristotle. In the following excerpted essay from 1575, Le Roy offers a panoramic view of some of the notable achievements during the Renaissance. As he details the many great accomplishments in art, letters, and science, he emphasizes that these wonderful advancements were taking place throughout Europe and were not confined to any single country. Le Roy sees this as evidence that the Renaissance is the dawning of a new age of learning and understanding that will embrace all nations and people. As a humanist, he gives due credit to the imagination of the people who brought about these remarkable changes, but he also refutes the criticism of some religious leaders by...