While there's no single, universally agreed upon date, most historians place the start somewhere around 1485, with the end of the Wars of the Roses and the ascension of Henry VII to the throne.
However, some argue that the Renaissance truly began in the 1530s with the rise of humanism and the Protestant Reformation in England.
Here's a breakdown:
* Early Renaissance (c. 1485-1558): This period is marked by the influence of Italian Renaissance ideals and the emergence of notable figures like Thomas More, Erasmus, and Henry VIII.
* High Renaissance (c. 1558-1603): This is the golden age of English literature and theater, featuring playwrights like Shakespeare, Marlowe, and Jonson, as well as poets like Spenser and Sidney.
* Late Renaissance (c. 1603-1660): This period sees the decline of the Elizabethan era and the rise of new literary and artistic styles, influenced by the English Civil War and the Restoration.
It's important to remember that the Renaissance was a gradual process, not a sudden event. The transition from medieval to modern England was a complex one, and different aspects of the Renaissance emerged at different times.