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The Renaissance movement started in Italy in the late 14th century and lasted until the early 16th century.It spread to the rest of Europe in the late 15th century and lasted there until the early 17th century.The Renaissance saw the revival of interest in classic Greek and Roman works of art and literature.But it was more than just a revival.Renaissance scholars and artists emphasized the importance of man and encouraged a greater appreciation of physical beauty in both manufactured and natural objects，including human beings themselves.People at the time of the Renaissance were also more conscious of man’s position in the development of society.They began to more fully appreciate the unique talents and potentials of individuals.With this awareness came a new emphasis on education to help people achieve their potential，and an outpouring of literature and scholarship which helped people better understand themselves and the past.

The Renaissance spread to England after the War of the Roses and lasted there until the 17th century.The Renaissance in England was more literary than artistic.Many important literary figures appeared in England during this period，such as Thomas More（1478—1535），Edmund Spencer（1552—1599），Francis Bacon（1561—1626），Christopher Marlowe（1564—1593），and above all William Shakespeare（1564—1616）.They all celebrated life and attacked feudal cruelty，hypocrisy，ignorance and violations of human dignity.They also promoted education and reform.Above all，they voiced ideas that proved enduring.For example，Francis Bacon，a philosopher and a politician，urged full investigation in The Advancement of Learning because he believed that knowledge came only from experience，and that truth did not come from authority but from observation and careful analysis.This approach lies at the foundation of modern social and natural science.Shakespeare’s historical plays studied the relationship between ends and means and warned people that when“men are corrupt，they debase the most inspired ends;when the ends are ignoble，they destroy the most noble men”.The ideas advocated by the Renaissance scholars and writers in England played an important role in the future development of British history by opening people’s minds to new perspectives and pointing out more effective ways to seek knowledge and truth.