Petrarch opted out of studying law in order to devote his life to literature. ... He considered himself a protector of the study of the humanities that Petrarch started. ... He was most well-known for his guide to courtly behavior, titled Il cortegiano (The Courtier). The guide was published in 1528 in Venice and outlines how a courtier should conduct oneself, in love, war, and his pursuit of education (Kekewich 167). ... Literature was not the only genre affected by humanism. ...

• Word Count: 2321
• Approx Pages: 9
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

Humanism isn't just the study of Literature and Philosophy it also includes many other aspects such as architecture and music. Anything that is studying "classic works" to extend human knowledge is considered Humanist. ... By studying how humanists before them used reason instead of religion to explain things they learned from it. ... This was pretty much a guide to becoming successful. He was studying the rulers of ancient times and by studying what happened to them he wrote an entire book on informing people the correct rules of being in power. ...

• Word Count: 656
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

One of Petrarch's legacies was his belief that the recovery and study of the works of antiquity could restore virtue, culture, and social order. ... His imitation of Virgil's Aeneid shows the degree to which he relied on Classical literature as a source and guide. ... Literary historian Eugenio Donadoni states that Petrarch was "a precursor of the humanists of the fifteenth century for whom the literature of antiquity was a cult" (Donadoni, 97). ... Based on his studies of Cicero, Petrarch believed that there had to be more to virtue than religion. ...

• Word Count: 2254
• Approx Pages: 9
• Grade Level: High School

Many dramatic changes occurred during this time in the fields of philosophy, art, politics, and literature. ... Talented individuals sought self gratification through art, literature, and architecture, and their achievements would influence future generations for centuries to come. ... The humanistic movement began during the early Italian Renaissance with the rediscovery of the writings of classical Greeks and Romans, which were not only models of literary style, but considered to be guides to the understanding of life. ... His most famous contribution to the world of literature are his strin...

• Word Count: 1908
• Approx Pages: 8
• Grade Level: Undergraduate