The Renaissance is the period in European history that followed the Middle Ages. It was marked by a revival of Classical art and literature. One of the most famous artists from this time period is Michelangelo. There was no exact year for the end of the Renaissance, but historians usually agree that it ended in circa 1600.
In 1545, the Council of Trent established the Roman Inquisition, which made humanism and any views that challenged the Catholic church an act of heresy punishable by death. By the early 17th century, the Renaissance movement had died out, giving way to the Age of Enlightenment.
