The Renaissance movement began in Italy and spread to other European nations from 1500 to 1688. Renaissance writers became inspired on the works produced by the Romans and Greeks during the ancient world. Renaissance writers believed that the arts, literature, learning and politics had flourished during the ancient times, and now they were reborn after the dark Middle Ages. In addition, the writers of the Renaissance reflected on their works a spirit of inquiry and exploration about the world, using the Greek and Roman writing styles as model.