What was the renaissance, what does "renaissance" mean, where did it begin, and when did it occur?

The Renaissance was a period of time in French history. It started in France then the ideas and inventions quickly spread to the rest of the world. "Renaissance" means light, joy, and happiness. I believe that printing press was invented during this time, and public knowledge grew. Books could be printed faster, and this helped with the era's feeling of light and peace. Art became a big thing and many developing artists found sponsors among the wealthy. Money spread quicker and the poor population's size decreased by a vast amount.