Describe key characteristics that distinguish the renaissance from the preceding period of the middle ages. discuss the role of the church in the middle ages. what is humanism and what part did it play in the renaissance?

The middle ages church held power with political leaders and the people.  
After the middle ages the church lost it's power.   Both with political leaders and the people.  

Henery VIII wanted an annulment, when not granted he started his own church.  But took a massive amount of land from the church.  
Made a massive amount of money by selling church positions, to the nobility.  

In terms of education.  Middle ages highly illiterate.  Renaissance literate came back to the people.  Particularly because of the printing press.