The Albanian Renaissance, also known as the Arbëresh Renaissance, was a significant cultural and political movement in Albania spanning the 15th to 17th centuries, influenced by the Italian Renaissance and propagated through Adriatic coastal cities. This period fostered advancements in Albanian art, literature, education, science, and diplomacy.
Due to the Albanian–Ottoman Wars and subsequent rule, many humanist scholars like Marin Barleti migrated to Italy, where they produced extensive works dedicated to national hero Skanderbeg and Albanian nationalism. Conversely, scholars who remained in Albania, including Gjon Buzuku, Pjetër Budi, and Pjetër Bogdani, focused on preserving Albanian traditions, language, and culture, often through religious texts.
A pivotal moment for the Albanian language was Pal Engjëlli's "Baptismal formula" in 1462, the first known document originally written in Albanian, followed by Gjon Buzuku's Meshari in 1555, which stands as the first book ever printed in Albanian. This era was crucial for formalizing and documenting the Albanian language, laying foundations for its future development.