The Renaissance era is remembered as the time of the revival of Greco-Roman or old antiquity in Europe. But what caused this revival? The medieval era, or Middle Ages, was the predecessor of the Renaissance. During medieval times, Gothic and Romanesque architecture was present throughout Europe. As the Renaissance followed the Middle Ages, it is possible to describe their differences across Europe. Changes in culture, religion, ideology, and government eventually led the people of the Renaissance to express their skills in architecture, science, arts, and more. The contrast in the expression of art or architecture is evident in both eras. The ideologies of the great have shifted from belief in religion to a never before seen approach to life. Renaissance people strove to learn science and humanism. Religion was actually still a large part of Renaissance people's lives, but it just seemed to be gradually diminishing in power; but their belief was still intact. Medieval, Romanesque and Gothic architecture falls within the broad range of the Middle Ages, circa 400-1400. These architectural styles were mainly seen on religious structures, which were scaled to grandeur or had a feeling of monumentality. The architect's goal was to represent Religion. The Middle Ages can be seen as a dark and gloomy time for Europe, but in reality it was the interest in religion that led to the façade appearance of these styles. The world of Islam saw its golden age rise as the decline of Rome deepened across Europe. The decline of the Great Roman Empire in Northern Europe was accompanied by the lack of governed infrastructure. This led to a time of uncertainty and faith kept the people intact. Rel...... middle of paper ......ment saw the human body in geometric context and proportions; the anatomy of the body also attracted interest. Humanists have found ancient documents revealing the true engineering and beauty of Greco-Roman culture. Humanists aspired to recreate classical architecture and expressed their liberal art. Beautiful structures were a source of satisfaction for a Renaissance architect. Works Cited1. Fazio, M., Moffet, M., Wodehouse, L., (2008) Renaissance Architecture. In Fazio, M., Moffet, M., Wodehouse, L., (Ed.3), Building Across Time (pp. 284-336). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.2. Derrick, F., (2010) Tales Told in Church Stones – Symbolism and Legend in Medieval Architecture and Crafts. Read book designs.3. Moore, C., (1905) Character of Renaissance Architecture. The McMillan Company.4. Bodart, D., (2008) Renaissance and Mannerism. Sterling Publishing Company.