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. ... This literary form is to this day is known as "Petrarchan sonnet." ... His imitation of Virgil's Aeneid shows the degree to which he relied on Classical literature as a source and guide. ... Petrarch had unwittingly become the creator of historical analysis and literary criticism. ... 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