The Renaissance significantly transformed literature and art by emphasizing humanism and individual expression. Writers like Dante, Machiavelli, and Shakespeare explored themes of human experience, emotion, and secularism, diverging from the medieval focus on religion. In art, artists such as Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo innovated techniques like linear perspective, enhancing realism and depth in their work. This culturally rich period encouraged the revival of classical antiquity, stimulating new ideas in philosophy, politics, and science. The emphasis on personal achievement and creative expression not only shaped European culture but also laid the foundation for the modern age, influencing Western thought for centuries.