Between the 1300s and 1500s, Europe experienced a period of cultural rebirth known as the Renaissance. It ushered in a golden age in the arts and literature and a revolution in science. During the same period, the Roman Catholic Church faced increasing criticism from all levels of society. The movement for Church reform, known as the Protestant Reformation, unleashed forces that shattered Christian unity in the West.
The Renaissance that began in Italy was characterized by an interest in learning and the arts and a desire to explore the human experience.
The Renaissance slowly spread to northern Europe, where artists and writers experimented with new methods and ideas.
The ideas of Martin Luther and John Calvin led people to separate from the Roman Catholic Church and form new Protestant churches.
Both the Protestant and Catholic reformations brought sweeping changes to Europe.
A new way of thinking, based on experimentation and observation, changed the way Europeans looked at the world.