Middle School
Worksheets
East Meets West in Renaissance Literature
The activities that people spend their time on have changed throughout history. Sometimes advances are made in some areas, while other areas decline. During the years of the ancient Greek and Roman civilizations, learning and writing were important activities. Then in Europe during the Middle Ages, many types of learning and creative writing nearly came to a stop.
During the Renaissance, people took a renewed interest in creative writing. There was also renewed interest in the writings of the ancient Greeks and Romans. Renaissance scholars began to rediscover manuscripts written in classical times. They also discovered that, in other parts of the world, learning and writing had continued to progress through the years that had become known as the Dark Ages in Europe.
These discoveries were made possible by the merchants who traveled the trading routes to Asia. These traders brought back beautiful silks and spices. They also brought back other things that may have been even more valuable. They brought back classic manuscripts that had not really been destroyed at all but were preserved in libraries in Eastern countries. They brought back knowledge and stories written by Eastern scholars, too.
