The transition between the Middle Ages and the Renaissance was characterized by great socio-economic, political and religious changes. Politically, the feudal system of the Middle Ages was replaced by a more stable centralized republican/monarchical system that gave the people more freedom and input. Religiously, secularism became more important as stability gave people the ability to care about the “here and now” rather than simply the “afterlife.” Socially, there has been a shift from dogma and unshakable faith to humanism and the ability to interpret things for oneself. The Middle Ages began around 400 AD and lasted until 1400 AD while the Renaissance began around 1200 and continued until 1600. The 200 years that overlap between these two periods contain many pieces of “transitional” art where it is obvious that the change is starting. take place. These collective changes that occurred during this period also dictated changes in art. There were changes in iconography, style, purpose, and patronage that facilitated the overall transformation of art from the sense of illustrating what you are told to believe is true to optical realism and conveying how you yourself interpret that "truth". During the Middle Ages, feudalism served as the “political, social, and economic system of government of late medieval Europe.” Feudalism consisted of feudal lords granting land and protection to vassals, common men, in exchange for their loyalty and military service. Although at first glance this principle may seem like a fair trade, in reality it limits the entire society and takes away every bit of independence. In essence, this system could even be compared to a “mini-dictatorship” because ordinary people relied on… middle of paper… fabulous piece remembered long after its time. This was accepted rather than scorned because of the shift from dogma to humanism that occurred between the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. The transition between the Middle Ages and the Renaissance was documented in art for future generations. It is because of the changes that occurred in art during this period that art historians today understand the historical setting and the socio-economic, political and religious changes of the era. Art is a visual interpretation of one's beliefs and way of life; it is through the art of these periods that we understand today exactly what was happening and why it was happening. These changes did not happen overnight, but instead changed gradually over years and years of art, and it is through them that we can record some of the most important changes of historical times..