During what time period did the Renaissance begin?

The Renaissance is a cultural movement that first began in Florence, Italy around the mid-fourteenth century and later spread throughout Europe. The beginning of the Renaissance fell in the late Middle Ages, which lasted throughout the fourteenth century and officially ended in 1485.
In the mid-fourteenth century, the Black Death plagued Europe and took away the lives of one third of Europe's population. This caused widespread panic, and people started to lose confidence in what they had been taught by the church. In the meantime, the city-states of Italy witnessed the burgeoning of capitalism along with unprecedented economic advances and cultural prosperity. People started to become aware that they had the right to enjoy life and use their own efforts to improve their lives, whatever class they were born into. Instead of putting all their faith in God and destiny, some people began to realize the importance of people's contribution in making the world a better place. 
This new way of thinking is known as humanism, which was also the focus of the cultural activities during the Renaissance. Because the inspiration came from the arts and works of ancient Greeks and Romans, this period of cultural movement was named the "Renaissance," a word that means "rebirth."