Renaissance Literature refers to the period in European literature that began in Italy during the 14th century and spread around Europe through the 17th century. The impact of the Renaissance varied across the continent; countries that were predominantly Catholic or Protestant experienced the Renaissance differently compared to areas where the Orthodox Church was dominant as reflecting on its culture, as well as those areas of Europe under Islamic rule.

The creation of the Printing Press by Johannes Gutenberg encouraged authors to write in the local vernacular rather than in Greek or Latin classical languages, widening the reading audience and promoting the spread of Renaissance ideas.

See also

• Dutch Renaissance and Golden Age literature
• Elizabethan literature
• French Renaissance literature
• Spanish Renaissance literature
• Italian Renaissance literature

Literature by century

• 14th century in literature
• 15th century in literature
• 16th century in literature
• 17th century in literature

Poetry by century

• 14th century in poetry
• 15th century in poetry
• 16th century in poetry
• 17th century in poetry

References

ar: bs:Knji evnost renesanse ca:Literatura renaixentista es:Literatura del Renacimiento fr:Litt rature de la Renaissance lv:Renesanses literat ra nl:Renaissanceliteratuur ja: no:Renessansens litteratur ro:Literatura Rena terii ru: sr: fi:Renessanssin kirjallisuus sv:Ren ssansens litteratur uk: