Can someone please explain the Renaissance?

renaissance lead Europe out of the dark ages, it was in a sense the first great enlightenment because it was a time when scientific discoveries were being made along with art and music. It was a time of new ideas. The reformation, scientific revolution, and enlightenment were all greatly influenced by the ideas and discoveries made in the renaissance. Without the renaissance none of them would have happened, Enightenment was a direct effect of the scientific revolution. People bcame "enlightened" by the scientific discoveries and started challenging superstitious beleifes. It was a domino effect. These histroical periods were very similar, liberal times of science, art, and discovery.