Re-birth of the Renaissance "gotta have an art"

An integrated thematic unit of the Renaissance from 1490 to 1600. The unit is important in understanding the links between periods in history and how in society effect each other. Key concepts are the role of religion, especially the Roman Catholic Church, in Wester Society: the philosophy of the Renaissance, Machiavellian political philosophy; the definition of genius and examples and Renaissance art and literature; and the contrast of the Renaissance in Europe with periods before and after it. Why did the Renaissance start in Italy?