The Renaissance - A Very Short Introduction

Another fine addition to this excellent series. Brotton begins his book with a discourse on Hans Holbein's painting of The Ambassadors, where the objects depicted evoke various aspects of the Renaissance. He sketches in the background to the period, reminding us of the impact of the printing press, the upheavals in religion and the birth of European empires. He notes that the Renaissance is not just a European phenomenon but was also shaped by the growth of international trade. Specific chapters cover the growth of humanism, the relationship between church and state, the exploration of new lands, and developments in science and philosophy as well as in the arts.