Trecenta

Trecenta is an Italian word meaning "three hundred." It is derived from the Latin "trecenti," which also signifies three hundred. The term is often used in historical contexts referring to the 1300s (the years 1300 to 1399), particularly in Italian art history and literature. This usage parallels "Duecento" (two hundred, referring to the 1200s), "Quattrocento" (four hundred, referring to the 1400s), "Cinquecento" (five hundred, referring to the 1500s), and "Seicento" (six hundred, referring to the 1600s). The Trecento is considered a crucial period in Italian art, marking the transition from the late Middle Ages to the early Renaissance. Giotto di Bondone is a prominent artist associated with this period. In literature, figures such as Dante Alighieri, Petrarch, and Boccaccio are key representatives of the Trecento. While primarily associated with Italian culture and history, understanding the term is essential for anyone studying Western art history or medieval/Renaissance literature.