The Middle Ages is an extensive time period in European history which is seen as taking place between the years 500 and 1400 A.D. As the 15th and 16th centuries began, they brought with them many unique advances and many people developed new mindsets. The Humanists believed that the Middle Ages were a time of turmoil, while the Renaissance provided a change in people's views towards themselves, a revival of learning, and the arrival of several groups of people with similar beliefs. For this reason, many historians believe the Renaissance to be a period distinct from the Middle Ages.
The Renaissance began in Italy in the 12th and 13th centuries. Many aspects of life during this time period differed from those of the Middle Ages, such as the way people saw themselves in society. One of the major changes brought about by the Renaissance was the rise of individualism. People in the Middle Ages saw themselves as part of a race, family, or other general group. They never believed that their personal achievements held any significance until the Renaissance emerged. Throughout the 12th century in Italian history, people's thoughts changed. They saw themselves as individuals, they valued their personal attributes, and they were concerned with their personal well-being and glory (Doc 4). This created the concept of a "Renaissance Man" (Doc 2). These well rounded figures tried to excel in many different areas of life, such as personality, intelligence, artistic skills, and athletic ability. These men created legacies by themselves, not as part of a larger assembly (Doc 4). Another example of individualism is the way the Church officials began to live. Priests started to live the lives of luxury; They bought wine and other alcoholic beverages and got themselves drunk more and more often, which was not seen as a religious activity (Doc 5). Along with these examples, wealthy and powerful families such as the Capone's and Medici's became patrons to artists and provided them with money to create works of art.