Renaissance as foundation of industrial society

The Renaissance ("rebirth") was the cultural and intellectual revival in Europe from about the 14th to the 16th century (roots in the 13th century), beginning in Italian city-states such as Florence and Venice and spreading across Europe. It revived the learning of ancient Greece and Rome and marked the change from the Middle Ages to the modern age. It is rightly called the foundation for Europe's move from an agricultural (feudal) society to an industrial society, because it changed people's thinking, knowledge and economy.

How the Renaissance prepared the industrial society

1. Change in mindset – humanism replaced blind faith with reason; people believed they could understand and control nature.
2. Scientific method – Copernicus, Galileo, Kepler and later Bacon and Newton developed observation, experiment and mathematics, which later gave the steam engine and machines.
3. Spread of knowledge – the printing press (c. 1440) spread technical books and ideas; literacy rose.
4. Trade and capital – growth of trade, banking (Medici bank), and merchants created capital that could later be invested in factories.
5. Geographical discoveries – new sea routes and colonies supplied raw materials (cotton) and markets for goods.
6. Decline of feudalism – peasants became free labourers and moved to towns, giving the workforce that factories needed.
7. Technical innovations – better mills, clocks, mining, metallurgy and navigation tools built engineering skills.
8. Reformation and work ethic – encouraged hard work, saving and enterprise.

Renaissance --> Scientific Revolution --> Industrial
(13th-15th c)   (16th-17th c)            Revolution
 reason,art     experiment, laws         (~1760 Britain)
 printing       Newton, Galileo          steam, factories

Thus, the knowledge, capital, labour, markets and scientific attitude created during and after the Renaissance made it possible for Britain and Europe to start the Industrial Revolution around 1760.