Final answer:
A description of the Renaissance from the Encyclopedia Britannica is a tertiary source, summarizing information from secondary sources and providing an overview of the topic.
Step-by-step explanation:
A description of the Renaissance from the Encyclopedia Britannica would be considered a tertiary source. Tertiary sources are summaries or digests of information from primary and/or secondary sources, and they typically do not provide detailed information but rather a general overview of a topic. Encyclopedias, such as the Encyclopedia Britannica, are specifically designed to give a broad summary of knowledge from various topics, including historical periods like the Renaissance. They compile information that has already been processed, analyzed, and discussed in secondary sources, and provide citations that can lead one to both primary and secondary materials.
When embarking on a research project, it's essential to distinguish between primary, secondary, and tertiary sources. Secondary sources analyze and interpret primary sources, while tertiary sources like encyclopedias condense this information. It is good practice to consult all three types for a comprehensive understanding of the subject matter, and to pay attention to historiography to evaluate how scholars have previously interpreted the past.