The renaissance was a time of improvement where society wanted to move beyond the accomplishments of the past. The people of the time looked at the magnificent works of the Romans. Works that went unsurpassed for centuries included the Roman aqueducts, the intricately designed roads and fortifications that were kept intact for hundreds of years, and the colossal domes that could not be replicated. Understanding of these accomplishments could only be reached by looking back and studying the works of antiquity. The great dome designed by Brunelleschi in Florence is an example of this desire to surpass the accomplishments of the past. This would have never have been built if Ptolemy's Geometry had not been reintroduced into academia by people such as Tuscanelli and Hermes Trismegistus. The development of Perspective, one of the most influential constructs to come from the Renaissance, was of most importance to Brunelleschi when he undertook the challenge of building his dome. Perspective would go on to shape many areas of geometry, engineering, and art. Without Perspective, our understanding of geometry and engineering would have been severely stunted. It can be questioned that if ideas and theories of Perspective were not developed or rediscovered at this time we would not be living today's advanced civilization. Without Perspective, engineering and geometry would have never evolved into the disciplines that give us the knowledge to create the structures we have today.
With the development of Perspective and the sudden desire to build great structures, engineering found its roots and gained momentum. The advances made in gunnery and fortifications required a detailed knowledge of engineering and mathematics. With these advances came a need for competent, educated individuals who could act as engineers. Thus, Abbacus schools and Universities were introduced all around Europe educating on these subjects.
