1.The Italian Renaissance followed on the heels of the Middle Ages, and was spawned by the birth of the philosophy of humanism, which emphasized the importance of individual achievement in a wide range of fields. ... Under the influence of the humanists, literature and the arts climbed to new levels of importance. 2. ... However, this much is clear about the text: Machiavelli genuinely believed that a ruler fit to unite the city-states of Italy must be feared, as opposed to loved. ... The Renaissance also saw the invention of printing in Europe and the rise of literature as an import...

• Word Count: 455
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: Undergraduate