If you want to discover the captivating history of the Renaissance, then keep reading...   "Renaissance" is the French word for "rebirth," which is given to the period of time between the 14th and 17th centuries in Europe when there was a marked resurgence in classical art, education, philosophy, architecture, and natural sciences. Once more, the former Roman territories embraced the writings of ancient Greeks and Romans, and the idea of humanism. This rebirth marks the end of the Dark Ages and the beginning of the long march toward modernity.   In those precious centuries, astronomers redefined the way we view our place in the solar system and the universe. Writers and scholars gave us new ways of thinking about the human condition, the self, and the community. Artists found new methods of expression, and architects used classical pieces in their contemporary churches, palaces, and public buildings. Science leaped forward, once more able to match the level of Arab and Muslim intellect