The Renaissance took place in the period of time following the Medieval Period of Europe.
In the history of Europe , the Middle Ages or Medieval Period lasted from the 5th to the 15th century . The Renaissance ( [ rᵻˈneɪsəns ] , [ rɛnəˈsɑːns ] ) was a period in European history , from the 14th to the 17th century , regarded as the cultural bridge between the Middle Ages and modern history . It started as a cultural movement in Italy in the Late Medieval period and later spread to the rest of Europe , marking the beginning of the Early Modern Age . Renaissance art . Renaissance art marks the transition of Europe from the medieval period to the Early Modern age .