The [[Renaissance]] is a period of history and a European cultural movement covering the [[1400-01-01 - 1599-12-31|15th and 16th centuries]]. It marked the transition from the [[Middle Ages]] to modernity and was characterized by an effort to revive and surpass the ideas and achievements of classical antiquity. Associated with great social change in most fields and disciplines, including art, architecture, politics, literature, exploration and science, the Renaissance was first centered in the Republic of [[Florence]], then spread to the rest of [[Italy]] and later throughout [[Europe]].