This Companion is the ideal reference guide for students and teachers of Renaissance Europe. It fills a gap for anauthoritative but accessible resource on political, religious, social, economic as well as cultural developments in this crucial period. There is also detailed coverage of Italy, the Low Countries, France and all the Courts of Europe. Information is provided on all the major topics including the church, war and diplomacy, civic life, learning and letters, printing, the economy, science and technology, the arts, Europe and the wider world. Integrated into the text are several city plans, maps and genealogical tables.