The Renaissance and Reformation were two of the most important changes in history that shaped our world today. These two great periods are strikingly similar in some ways and completely different in others. Indeed, the Renaissance was a transition from religion to humanism, whether in art or in literature; this is where the individual began to matter. However, the Reformation was, in a word, a means of reforming the Church and, even more, of shaping society as it is today. The first half of this article will examine the fall of the faith, economic powers, and artistic and literary changes during the Renaissance, while the second half will examine the progress and changes made by the Church during the Reformation. As previously stated, the Renaissance It was the rebirth of society. What led to this was a diminution of faith because of the Great Schism, a conflict between two popes, where both said they were the pope. People were beginning to adopt a secular view over what the Church told them to believe. Society was moving to where individual perspectives mattered. With politics beginning to gain importance and a better economy, places began to be centered on cities, particularly city-states, which are urban societies that have adopted secular views. Some of the major economic powers of the Renaissance were the Italian city-states. The first, Milan, was in northern Italy. Milan, a center of trade and money with a high tax, was ruled by Visconti and was later taken over by Sforza. Next comes Venice, which constitutes the link between Asia and the Western world. Venice was a republic with a doge, or elected ruler, and ruled by merchants and aristocrats. Finally, it was Florence that became the ass...... middle of paper ......y Catholic leaders held meetings in Trento for 18 years and examined the Catholic religion. The only real change they really made was that indulgences were no longer for sale but were given away. The Renaissance and the Reformation were two of the most important changes in history that shaped our world today. If you look at both the Renaissance and the Reformation, you will see many differences and similarities between the two. One of the main contrasts was that the Reformation was primarily about reforming the Church, whereas the Renaissance had a much more secular outlook. Some of the similarities were that they were both willing to accept new ideas, whether artistic or religious, and that they both had corrupt leaders. Many changes occurred during this time and I believe our world today would be completely different without them..