Italy, and specifically Florence, is said to have been the birthplace of humanistic thinking and the Renaissance for a variety of reasons. ... Many pre Renaissance and Renaissance individuals felt torn between the pious teachings of the church and the earthly pleasures which wealth and independence brought. ... He is often referred to as "the Father of the Renaissance." ... This, later in life, would dominate his writing in which his sonnets, written in vernacular Italian, would help define Italian as an accepted language. ... Petrarch Urged others to do the same and wealthy Italians all ...

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

Pompeii lay on a plateau of ancient lava near the Bay of Naples in western Italy in a region called Campania, less than 1.6 kilometers from the foot of Mount Vesuvius. ... In 1748, a farmer discovered a wall and the authorities in Italy began a series of excavations. ... The Italian government has provided funding money for this project. ... The technique used in these walls differed considerably from that used in Renaissance frescoes. ...

• Word Count: 2432
• Approx Pages: 10
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School