Renaissance vs. Humanism — What's the Difference?

The Renaissance (UK: rin-AY-sənss, US: (listen) REN-ə-sahnss) is a term used to describe a period in European history marking the transition from the Middle Ages to modernity and covering the 15th and 16th centuries. It occurred after the Crisis of the Late Middle Ages and was associated with great social change.

Humanism is a philosophical stance that emphasizes the potential and agency of human beings, individually and socially. It considers human beings as the starting point for serious moral and philosophical inquiry.

A rebirth or revival.

A system of thought that focuses on humans and their values, capacities, and worth.

The humanistic revival of classical art, architecture, literature, and learning that originated in Italy in the 14th century and later spread throughout Europe.

Humanism A cultural and intellectual movement of the Renaissance that emphasized human potential to attain excellence and promoted direct study of the literature, art, and civilization of classical Greece and Rome.

The period of this revival, roughly the 14th through the 16th century, marking the transition from medieval to modern times.

The study of the humanities; learning in the liberal arts.

A revival of intellectual or artistic achievement and vigor:the Celtic Renaissance.

Secular humanism.

The period of such a revival.

Concern with the interests, needs, and welfare of humans

Of, relating to, or characteristic of the Renaissance or its artistic and intellectual works and styles.

The study of the humanities or the liberal arts; literary (especially classical) scholarship.

Of or being the style of architecture and decoration, based on classical models, that originated in Italy in the 14th century and continued throughout Europe up to the end of the 16th century.

Specifically, a cultural and intellectual movement in 14th-16th century Europe characterised by attention to classical culture and a promotion of vernacular texts, notably during the Renaissance.

A rebirth or revival.

An ethical system that centers on humans and their values, needs, interests, abilities, dignity and freedom; especially used for a secular one which rejects theistic religion and superstition.

(historical) Renaissance

Humanitarianism, philanthropy.

A new birth, or revival.

Human nature or disposition; humanity.

The period of European history at the close of the Middle Ages and the rise of the modern world; a cultural rebirth from the 14th through the middle of the 17th centuries

The study of the humanities; polite learning.

The revival of learning and culture

A doctrine or ethical point of view that emphasizes the dignity and worth of individual people, rejects claims of supernatural influences on humans, and stresses the need for people to achieve improvement of society and self-fulfillment through reason and to develop human-oriented ethical values without theism.

The doctrine that people's duty is to promote human welfare

The doctrine emphasizing a person's capacity for self-realization through reason; rejects religion and the supernatural

The cultural movement of the Renaissance; based on classical studies