Podcast Episode: Chapter 12 Western Europe and Byzantium circa 1000 - 1500 CE

The Renaissance draws together many of the topics discussed in this class.  The period was defined by new interest in the culture of ancient Greece and Rome, as can be seen in the art of Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo. The Renaissance also encouraged scientific inquiry and exploration, often using ancient works preserved by medieval Christian and Islamic scribes.  In the end, Renaissance sailors and navigators reconnected Europe to Africa and Asia, and ultimately to the Americas.  When Columbus crossed the Atlantic in 1492, his voyage did more than connect two hemispheres:  it symbolized the end of one era and the beginning of another.