The period of European history at the close of the Middle Ages and the rise of the modern world; a cultural rebirth from the 14th through the middle of the 17th centuries WordNet 3.0 & Open English WordNet

The Renaissance is a period in history and a cultural movement marking the transition from the Middle Ages to modernity, covering the 15th and 16th centuries and characterized by an effort to revive and surpass the ideas and achievements of classical antiquity; it occurred after the crisis of the Late Middle Ages and was associated with great social change in most fields and disciplines, including art, architecture, politics, literature, exploration and science. Wikipedia

In European history, a period of renaissance for art, science and literature based on the rediscovery of the achievements of classical antiquity. OmegaWiki

The period of this revival; the transition from medieval to modern times. Wiktionary

The period. Wiktionary (translation)