Age of Renaissance
Based on History of English Literature by Raghukul Tilak (C) EARLY RENAISSANCE (1485-1560) OR THE FIRST HALF OF THE 16TH CENTURY The Renaissance and the Reformation: Social Background The Early Renaissance marks the transition from the medieval to the modern world in England, a period characterized by the revival of classical learning and intense religious upheaval. The era began with the rise of the Tudor dynasty under Henry VII in 1485, which ended the feudal chaos of the War of the Roses and established a strong, centralized monarchy. This political stability allowed for the influx of the New Learning or Humanism. Following the fall of Constantinople in 1453, Greek scholars fled to Europe bringing ancient manuscripts that revived interest in Greek and Roman philosophy. This shift moved the intellectual focus from Theocentric (God-centered) to Anthropocentric (Man-centered), emphasizing human potential and life on earth. The ideal figure of the age became the Human...