The Renaissance period saw major changes in architectural styles and approaches. Architecture moved away from the religious focus of the Middle Ages towards one emphasizing classical antiquity and secular themes. Buildings featured symmetrical designs, arches, and domes inspired by ancient Roman and Greek structures. Architects like Brunelleschi and Alberti helped establish principles of proportion, geometry and balance that defined Renaissance architecture. This new Renaissance style spread across Europe and represented a shift towards humanism and new ways of thinking.