Artists like Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo created greats works of art during this time. Writers like William Shakespeare were producing their own masterpieces.

Even today, the buildings and streets of Rome, Florence, and many other Italian cities are filled with stunning Renaissance art and architecture. Famous Renaissance paintings hang in museums all over the world. 

The word “renaissance” literally means “rebirth.” In truth, the Renaissance gave birth to the modern world.

Watch the video to see how The Waldseemüller Map 1507 was made and how it changed the world.

- What developments were made.

The Polos were some of the first Europeans to travel to China and Mongolia.

On their second trip to China they took Marco along with them. They took 4 years to get there, going along The Silk Road, stopping in many cities along the way, trading different goods.

Marco stayed in China for 17 years as an adviser and aide to Khan.

On his return to Europe (a journey which took three years), he was captured by the people living in Genoa as they were at war with Venice (Marco's birth place).

While in prison he dictated his adventures to his cellmate Rustichello da Pisa who wrote the famous book "The Travels of Marco Polo". The book became very famous and was translated into many languages. Marco's stories greatly influenced Christopher Columbus.

When Marco was released from Prison he married and had three daughters. He died before his 70th birthday on January 8th, 1324.

Leif Eriksson visited North America around 1000 A.D., almost 500 years before Columbus made his journeys. He spent only one winter there before returning to Iceland. He never sailed to America again.

Other Viking explorers visited North America. They were met with fierce attacks from native tribes.Researchers aren’t sure exactly where Leif landed, but they believe it might have been at Labrador or Newfoundland, in Canada.