I believe you need to use subordinate clauses in order to combine these two sentences. Here is my solution:
During the Renaissance, (which was) an era immediately following the Middle Ages, new continents were discovered.
This way, you are using all words mentioned in both sentences, and combining them into one complete sentence.
I think the similarity stated would be the same setting in Romeo and Juliet wherein Juliet pretends to be dead when she was found by her family. The scene and the painting were also taken from a dark tomb with a priest talking in front of the dead virgin and her family.
