5.1 The Renaissance
The culture of the Renaissance, with the rediscovery of the classics, had reintroduced a pagan spirit into society.Renaissance culture was not bound to rigid theological-metaphysical dogmas, but was free to range from art to philosophy, from medicine to astronomy, from morality to politics. Art, completely freed from morality, became a way to communicate with the pure beauty of form. Even politics became independent from religion: the sovereign no longer reigned by divine right, but thanks to his own virtues and the strength with which he imposed his dominion.
The fervor and intense thought activity of the Renaissance are also the basis of numerous scientific discoveries and inventions, the most important of which is certainly that of the press for the impact it had on the diffusion of culture. Until the 14th century, books were written on parchment by scribes, mainly monks, and the long production times made them a rare product accessible to few. But towards the middle of the century the invention of movable type printing by the German John Gutenberg revolutionized the transmission of knowledge in Europe. In 1456, the first book in movable type, the Bible, was printed. Over the next fifty years, hundreds of thousands of books were produced in Europe, perhaps more than all the scribes had transcribed in the previous millennium.
There were also notable improvements in the quality of life; majestic palaces arose in the cities, considerable impetus was given to the construction of wider streets, fountains, gardens and museums. In the residences of the princes, the arts, music, dance, poetry and theater found widespread diffusion. Among the higher classes, sumptuous clothing, the luxury of homes, cultured and gallant conversation, and the magnificence of parties became a distinctive sign of the holders of power.