Uploaded April 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago

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FROM THE ARCHIVES: "The greatest achievements of the Renaissance were the discovery of the world...and the discovery of man." So begins Britannica's 1957 film "The Renaissance (Its Beginnings in Italy)."

The Italian Renaissance was a period that followed the Middle Ages and reached its height between the 1490s and 1520s. It was characterized by new innovation in scholarship, art, astronomy, and commerce.

What did Britannica get right about the Renaissance back in 1957? And more importantly, what did we get wrong? And why is there so much singing? Let us know in the comments below.

Learn more from Britannica:
The Renaissance At A Glance: britannica.com/topic/The-Renaissance-At-a-Glance-2235613
What Makes Michelangelo a Renaissance Man? britannica.com/question/What-makes-Michelangelo-a-Renaissance-man
Renaissance Art: britannica.com/art/Renaissance-art

00:00 Opening Credits
00:17 Intro
00:52 Bells
01:22 Quarry
02:30 Florence, Italy
03:19 Italian Artists
06:00 Middle Ages
07:01 Music
08:50 14th Century
10:07 Commerce
11:15 Cities
12:25 Baptistery of San Giovanni
14:10 Ancient Rome
16:20 Architecture
17:08 Style
17:35 Violence
18:40 Da Vinci
20:20 Michelangelo
23:25 Modern Era
24:57 End

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