Final answer:
Both past and present-day historians recognize the Middle Ages had a positive impact on the art and learning of the Renaissance, although the perspectives differ on the extent and nature of that impact.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question about whether the Middle Ages had a positive impact on the new art and learning in the Renaissance can be considered from both past and present-day historical perspectives. Historians in the past, particularly during the Renaissance itself, viewed their own period as a glorious rebirth superior to the 'Middle' or even 'Dark' Ages. However, modern historians recognize the contributions of the Middle Ages as valuable and acknowledge the continuities between the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. This perspective sees the Middle Ages brimming with artistic and intellectual achievements, setting the groundwork for developments during the Renaissance.
Therefore, the answer to the question would be C. Both perspectives agree, as over time, historians have come to recognize that while Renaissance thinkers initially saw their era as a significant leap forward from the Middle Ages, contemporary historiography tends to view the Middle Ages as a period with its own merits that positively influenced the Renaissance.