With the birth of the Renaissance in Italy during the 14th century, emerged new and radical ideas which contradicted the orthodox teachings of the Roman Catholic Church. Renaissance writers and artists, such as Machiavelli, da Vinci, and Raphael, blatantly challenged these teachings and values through the use of increasingly influential philosophies such as secularism, individualism, and humanism in their work. Secularism, the idea that religion should not be integrated with matters of the state, is emphasized by writers such as Niccolo Machiavelli and the painter Botticelli. Perhaps the most prominent demonstration of secularism can be attributed to Machiavelli’s The Prince. In his work, Machiavelli denounces the traditional church outlook
