There’s a theory moving through cyberspace and in my head: the idea that we are re-living the time of the decline of the Roman Empire and witnessing the beginnings of a Renaissance, like that associated with the Italian Renaissance, 1330- 1550 (or so).  History has been known to repeat itself, right? Many scholars agree and so do I (although I wouldn’t exactly consider myself a scholar; just a curious human).

In Patricia Martin’s book, RenGen: The Rise of the Cultural Consumer and What It Means to Your Business she describes the time prior to the decline of Rome as a civilization with a “hearty economy, buttressed by a sophisticated banking system and where the people were governed by a representative civic authority” (sounds like the Clinton years). According to Martin, Rome started to decline under the excess power of politically corrupt emperors like Nero (sounds like Bush).  A once thriving economy with a surplus and a strong military might became a regime dwindled of its resources and trust of it’s citizens. That feels very similar to what’s going on now.

What then followed was good news. The big thinkers, scientists and creatives, who were pissed off and sick of all the corruption, moved out of Rome and reestablished themselves in Florence. Thus began the movement of what we now call the Italian Renaissance, where people were encouraged and inspired to follow their passions, contribute to a new perspective and create, create, create…mostly art, that is. Of course, Florence had it’s fair share of challenges. However, as we all know, challenges always accompany growth on every level.

There are similarities between today’s Renaissance Generation-a term used by Martin to explain a cultural movement created by the confluence of art, education, entertainment and business and those of the Italian Renaissance. Here are just a few things:

1) More people are following their passions and see it as their life purpose, therefore, contributing to the world and caring for their surroundings in the process. According to Martin, there are more artists applying to Art Institutes in the U.S. than ever before.

2) More people are into aesthetics in art/design and look for deeper meaning of objects they buy.

3) More people are identified with what product or service they purchase and how it makes them feel. They care about the quality, material, design and how the items were manufactured.

4) There is a growing movement of collaboration and sharing of ideas (present day via the Internet.)

Over the past five years, I have a been a witness to the growth of these types of characteristics, but never really knew how to define it. If we are truly experiencing the beginnings of a renaissance, which I believe we are, we can easily shift our perspective from worry about our future to the thought, “Wow, here’s an opportunity for me to contribute, follow my passion and collaborate with others on the same path.”

For we all know that with death comes a re-birth. It’s happened before and it’s happening again. I, for one, am very excited.