The Renaissance marked a break from earlier patterns of thought and existence:
1. New ideas, rational outlook and scientific beliefs ended the age old superstitions.
2. Renaissance preached Humanism which inspired the contemporary philosophers, scholars, artists and writers to take up man as their principal subject.
3. People discarded old values and adopted a scientific outlook. It encouraged national thinking, spirit of enquiry and scientific investigation in all the spheres of life.
4. Many schools and colleges were opened at various places and education spread rapidly. The new literature, arts and sciences were so closely related to the ordinary life of the common man that the people were inspired to receive education.
5. It was marked by the origin of the Nation-States. These were fully sovereign, free from any kind of interference, political or religious.
6. Renaissance gave birth to another movement, called the Reformation Movement which split Christianity into two branches- the Protestants and the Roman Catholics.
7. Extensive voyages to explore new trade-routes were undertaken. These voyages led to the discovery of not only new routes but also new lands.
8. Interest in the Greek and Roman cultures as well as their art and literature grew up during this period.