In this history of the renaissance George Holmes surveys the extroadinary impact of the astonishingly rich culture which dramatically affected Europe in the 15th and 16th centuries. He examines the social, commercial and political background which enabled the extraodinary flourishing in the arts that took place during this period, stressing the importance of the Great commercial cities, Florence, Bruges, and Venice. Beginning with the Florentine renaissance, he traces the development of humanism in art, politics, science and philosophy and discusses the impact of the High renaissance in Italy on the rest of Europe. This history of the Renaissance surveys the extraordinary impact of this culture which dramatically affected Europe in the 15th and 16th centuries. It examines the social, commercial and political background which enabled the arts to flourish at this time, stressing the importance of the great commercial cities, Florence, Bruges and Venice. Beginning with the Florentine Renaissance, the book traces the development of humanism in art, politics, science and philosophy, then discusses the impact of the High Renaissance in Italy on the rest of Europe.