Starting in the 14th century and lasting until the 17th century, the Renaissance was a cultural movement that spread throughout Europe, influencing art, literature, architecture, inventions, and politics. This period was one of the most impactful cultural movements in history, affecting our world today. While history classes may gloss over the period, there are several interesting facts about the Renaissance to explore, from the importance of statues to when men got married. Keep reading to learn more.
6. Men didn’t marry until 30
Starting out our list of interesting facts about the Renaissance is the age at which men got married. The age requirement for marriage between men and women was very different. Men usually didn’t get married until they were 30, as they were considered not to be grown up until this point. Men in their 20s were even referred to as “giovannis,” going around town in gangs and causing havoc. On the flip side, women were expected to be married by 16 or 17 years old, and have children soon after.
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5. Turkeys were sculpture-worthy
Fifth on our list of interesting facts about the Renaissance is the surprising focus on turkeys. The bird made its way to Italy during the Renaissance, but was not deemed suitable for eating until the latter half of the century. Native to the Americas originally, explorers brought turkeys back to Europe. They were regarded as beautiful and strange creatures, and many were kept as pets or given as gifts. The best part? Many sculptures were even created of the turkey.
4. Rome had talking statues
Next on our list of interesting facts about the Renaissance is Rome’s famous talking statues. While they can’t talk, the statues served another purpose for those who needed to complain about their political and social issues. Six ancient statues were turned into “talking statues,” where individuals would paste commentary in the form of poems and epigrams, and sometimes the commentaries would respond to each other. The most famous of these statues was Pasquino, in a piazzetta off of Piazza Navona.
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3. The printing press was created
Rounding out the top three interesting facts about the Renaissance is the invention of the printing press. For a long time, books were painstakingly copied by hand, and many could not access these tomes since they were so expensive. However, when Johannes Gutenberg created the first printing press in 1436, it greatly sped up the copying process, and literature became accessible in a way it never had before. This allowed many classes of people to learn to read, and helped the spread of knowledge throughout Europe.
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2. Art focused on humans and Greek/Roman scenes
Second on our list of interesting facts about the Renaissance is the type of art that dominated the time. Most artworks between 1400 and 1495 focused on humans and Greek and Roman-inspired scenes. This was a departure from the medieval period by emphasizing human experience. Humanism, realism, and classical ideals bled through the canvas and showed the human form in greater accuracy. You may recognize many of the prominent artists during the time, including Leonardo DaVinci, Donatello, Michelangelo, and Raphael.
1. Women were discouraged from playing wind instruments
Last but not least on our list of interesting facts about the Renaissance is women and wind instruments. During this period, women were discouraged from playing wind instruments because they were told it made their faces look unattractive. In place of these instruments, women were encouraged to play string instruments, like the lute or the viola de gamba.
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