Placing the Renaissance in a Global Setting

Note: This is an old lesson that I prepared many years ago, and it has circulated among world history teachers. You can find further discussion of these ideas in my post "More than Four Turtles: Global Renaissances in the Fifteenth Century (Part I)"

Overview: In most world history and Western civilization courses, students learn about the Renaissance. The Renaissance is often presented as a uniquely European event without recognizing the important links between Italy and Asia that underlie the Renaissance and made it possible.