The Renaissance was a fervent period of European cultural, artistic, political and economic “rebirth” following the Middle Ages. Generally described as taking place from the 14th century to the 17th century, the Renaissance promoted the rediscovery of classical philosophy, literature and art.

Renaissance means re-birth.

I’ve just taken down one of my books and the Introduction says…

The title of the present work requires a certain amount of explanation. As the Middle Ages and the Renaissance come to be better known, the traditional antithesis between them grows less marked. The medieval period appears “less dark and static,” and the Renaissance “less bright and less sudden.” Above all, it is now recognised that pagan antiquity, far from experiencing a “rebirth” in 15th century Italy, had remained alive within the culture and art of the Middle Ages. Even the gods were not restored to life, for they had never disappeared from the memory or the imagination of man.

This book was written in 1940.

We seem to have a working date here that spans not thousands of years but no more than 8/900 years or so (?)