Some of the key elements of this period included:

• Employing the humanist method, as well as realism and human emotion in art.
• Seeking learning from ancient texts, typically written in Latin or ancient Greek.
• A desire to improve and perfect their worldly knowledge
• An entirely different change from the transcendental spirituality stressed by medieval Christianity
• Describing political life as it really was, and to improving government on the basis of reason
• Exploring new techniques and influences in all forms of art
• Exploring and discovering vastly different parts of the world, namely in the category of science
• Preaching the idea of self-awareness