What were the major differences between the Middle Ages and the Renaissance?

Question: What were the major differences between the Middle Ages and the Renaissance!?
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The 'Renaissance' was a time when people became obsessed with imitating the styles of architecture, art, and literature of the classical period (i!.e!. ancient Greece and rome)!. The exquisite Gothic architecture of the middle ages was despised as 'barbaric' and it was thought that only classical styles were worthy of admiration!.

The 'Renaissance' was a time when the power of royalty and nobility greatly increased, and the ability of the common people to have any control over their own destiny declined!. the rich became richer and the poor became poorer!. In England, for instance, the standard of living for poor people at the end of the 16th century was at its lowest ever!.

A major occurence of the Renaissance period was the Reformation, started by Martin Luther!. Countries that had been Catholic for centuries abandoned the Catholic church and started their own independent 'Protestant' churches!. During the medieval period nearly everyone in Western Europe had been Catholic, but now there were major religious differences between countries!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

The Middle Ages were supposedly the "Dark" Age, where learning was not as widespread and encouraged as was during the Renaissance!. During the Middle Ages, the main focus of the people was salvation, religion, trying to be good Christians and such!.
During the Renaissance, they strayed from this tight hold to religion and started to focus on learning, on the importance of the individual rather than the community as they did during the Middle Ages!. The people became more secular, not worrying as much about the afterlife as people had during the MA!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

In the Middle Ages there was limited learning and stuff like that!. The art also had NO perspective, so it looked flat!. The halos were also just circles!. In the Renaissance they had a lot more perspective, and learning increased a lot!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

The middle age was a time of darkness and war/feudalism compared to the renaissance, the time of learning/rebirth!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

higher social mobility & more centralized governments with breakdown of feudal system
(I guess you should specify a bit which aspects you want to know about!.!.!.social/political/etc)Www@QuestionHome@Com

Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't the Byzantine empire fall during the middle ages!?Www@QuestionHome@Com

more wide spread use of the printing press!.Www@QuestionHome@Com