The Renaissance was born around the 1300s when Europe experienced an explosion of creativity, a rebirth of art and learning. Its epicenter: northern Italy. Why? Other places in Europe were busy fighting wars, the Hundred Years" War, in particular. However, Italy had three very important advantages that allowed the Renaissance to initiate: growth of urban centers, merchants, and a classical heritage.
The spread of the artistic ideas was caused primarily by the physical movement of artists themselves. An invasion of 1494 by a French king to overtake Italy caused artists and writers to seek refuge in the North. With them they brought their styles and techniques. Others included students who studied in Italy who also brought back their learning, which accompanied that of the masters", consequently illuminating the North and revolutionizing their areas of art.
The Printing Press was invented during this time. It was revolutionary. It changed life in Europe and spread education and ideas. Now hundreds of copies of works could be reproduced and be sold at cheaper prices, which allowed more people to access the material. New ideas spread through printing, from religious works to medical manuals. There was a definite rise in literacy. Vernacular in literary works also increased accessibility, for the common people could now understand the language. Soon, Bibles in vernacular spread, and people began to interpret bible for themselves and had second thoughts about the clergy, a direct impact of the Renaissance theme of individualism. Clearly, this revolutionary printing press from the northern Renaissance has become the exact antithesis of the beginning of the previous uneducated Middle Ages.