in the italian renaissance an interest in stylistic revivalism manifested itself in art and architecture even before the close of the middle ages uncovering remains of the romaan past in rome the Florentine Humanist mranello and other Florence at a circle of forward thinking humanist and artists which also included donatello and masaccio turned to the roman past for inspiration in order to revivals and update the classicism of greco roman architecture and the architecture of ancient rome was based on the arcuated system A system that was unknown to the greek and which was to provide the basis for a the architecture of western civilization receiving ideas from the greek through the mediation of provincial etruscan architects the romans perfected the greek architectural and created there of new building types suchas the basilica the temple and the amphitheater it was not confined to the realm of building design the italian renaissance although above all an artistic movement had repercussion far beyond the confines of the arts not only in humanism a revival of classical learning in art and architecture but also in the study of antiquity in general and the humanity the rediscovery and recovery of the intellectual and literary heritage of the greek and roman world as opposed to the theocratic intellectual paradigm which was predominant throughout the european middle ages in other words the humanities were the reawakening of man's confidence in his own powers and in the possibility of solving his own problems through rational inquiry