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The Italian Renaissance produced many outstanding artists, writers, and thinkers and one of the greatest figures of this era was Francesco Petrarch Petrarcha (1304-1374). He was a great poet, philosopher, and writer. The Italian was to have a profound profoundly impact on the Renaissance's poetry of the Renaissance , not only in Italy but throughout Europe.  He was also one of the pioneers in the ‘humanist’ movement , which radically transformed the worldview of Europeans ' worldviews and their culture and society. Moreover, the Italian can be said to have invented the Renaissance concept of the Renaissance, which he defined as a return to classical values after the ‘Dark Ages’ of the Medieval World.

====What was Europe like in the 14th century==? ==The 14th century was , in many ways , a time of disaster and, darkness. It was marked by terrible wars, famines , and of course , the Black Death, the most lethal pandemic, known in European history. However, despite these disasters, there were dramatic changes in European societies. There was an increase in long-distance trade and urbanization, and feudal society began to break down in many areas. The Catholic Church was dominant, and it influenced every aspect of life in Europe. However, it was corrupt and worldly and was riven by disputes. These problems lead many people to adopt a more secular worldview and to reconsider key beliefs such as the humanity's imperfectability of humanity.

The most advanced region of Europe at this time was Italy. It was a patchwork of city-states which that had become centers of trade and industry. The peninsula was also the heir of the Roman Empire, and the wealthy urban elite increasingly became interested in the classical world. These led to dramatic cultural changes and new ways of looking at the world , and novel forms of artistic expression, that soon spread beyond Italy by the 15th century.

====The life and works of How did Petrarch==become a famous author? ==

Francesco Petrarch (in Italian Petrarca) was born in Arezzo in Northern Italy. His father was a lawyer and a member of the minor nobility. He spent some of his early childhood in a village near Florence , and his family later moved to Avignon in Southern France. His father followed the Pope's court of the Pope , who moved to Avignon to escape the Rome's disorders and instability .  Petrarch’s father obliged him to study law, but he later abandoned it, his first love was literature, and during his school years, he developed a life-long love of Latin and the ancient world. The young Francesco entered the church and took minor orders. This meant that while he was a cleric, he was able to live and work in Romesociety. The young Italian was in financially straitened circumstances after his father's death, and he began to serve the powerful Cardinal Colonna.

Petrarch’s father obliged him to study lawPetrarch was a diplomat, but and he later abandoned ithad a very cosmopolitan outlook, his first love which was literaturevery rare in the 14th century. One day while attending mass in 1327, and during his school years he developed saw a life-long lady at mass called Laura, whom he fell in love with at first sight, and she became his muse and inspired most of Latin and the ancient worldhis greatest poetry. The young Francesco entered the church and took minor orders During his travels on diplomatic missions, he would write poetry in praise of Laura. This meant Some have argued that while he Laura was fictional, a clericpoetic device, he but most believe she was a real historical figure. She was able to live probably the wife of a local count and work died in society1348. The young Italian was in financially straitened circumstances Petrarch became famous throughout Europe after the death circulation of his fatherEpic in Latin, Africa, and he began to serve the powerful Cardinal Colonnabased on a Roman general's life.

Petrarch In 1341, he was a diplomat, invited to Rome and he had a very cosmopolitan outlookwas crowned as Poet Laureate, which was very rare only the second poet to be honored in this way since the 14th centuryfall of the Empire. <ref> Larner, John. [https://www. One day while attending mass amazon.com/gp/product/0582491495/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0582491495&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=58bcbc87c3d5373957814ad9e0794770 Italy in 1327 he saw a ladythe Age of Dante and Petrarch, 1216-1380. Vol. 2] (London, at massLongman Publishing Group, called Laura whom he fell in love with at first sight1980), and she p 118</ref> He also became his muse and inspired most friendly with many of his the greatest poetry. During writers of his travels on diplomatic missionstime, such as Giovanni Boccaccio (1313-1375), he would write poetry in praise the author of Laurathe Decameron. There are those who have argued that Laura The Italian was fictional a poetic device, but most believe she great letter-writer and was a real historical figure. She was probably the wife of a local count and died in 1348. Petrarch became famous throughout Europe after correspondence with the circulation leading thinkers of his Epic time. Sometime in Latin1346, Africait seems that Petrarch had a spiritual crisis, based on and he became more religious. But he did not abandon his love of the classics and the life of a Roman generalclassical world. <ref>Larner, Vol I, p 201</ref>

In 1341His fame continued to grow, and he was invited to Rome and sent on a more diplomatic mission by the Church. The Italian was crowned as Poet Laureatean early supporter of Cola Rienzi, only who failed to resurrect the second poet to be honored Roman Republic and restore a popular government in this way, since Rome. This made him very unpopular with some of the fall leading Church figures of the Empireday and possibly harmed his diplomatic career. <ref> Larner, John. Italy in the Age of Dante After 1350 he traveled less and Petrarch, 1216-1380began to dedicate himself more to poetry. Vol. 2 (London, Longman Publishing Group, 1980), p 118</ref> He also became friendly with revised many of the greatest writers of his timeearlier lyrics, such as Giovanni Boccaccio (1313-1375), the author of the Decameron. The especially Italian was a great letter-writer and was in correspondence with the leading thinkers of his time. Sometime in 1346, it seems that Petrarch had a spiritual crisis and he became more religious. But he did not abandon collected these in his love of the classics and the classical worldfamous Il Canzoniere (Song Book).<ref>Larner, Vol I, p 201</ref>

His fame continued Despite taking orders, as a cleric, Petrarch, fathered two children outside of marriage and legitimized both a son and a daughter. He had a deep interest in education and became involved in some polemics against those who championed the traditional approach to groweducation, and he which was sent on the more diplomatic mission largely influenced by the Church's teachings.<ref> Mazzotta, Giuseppe. The Italian was an early supporter worlds of Cola Rienzi who failed Petrarch. No. 14 (North Carolina, Duke University Press, 1993), p. 119.</ref>In the 1360s, he settled in a bid Florence and later Padua but had to resurrect the Roman Republic and restore popular government in Rome. This made him very unpopular with some move regularly because of the leading Church figures outbreaks of the day and possibly harmed his diplomatic careerBlack Death. After 1350 In 1367 he traveled less and began returned to dedicate himself more to poetry, and he revised many of his earlier lyrics, especially those in Italian, Padua and remained there until he collected these died in his famous Il Canzoniere (Song Book)1374.

Despite taking orders== What was Petrarch's impact on Renaissance literature? ==<dh-ad/>While Petrarch wrote in both Latin and Italian, as a clericit is arguably his works, Petrarchespecially his poetry in his native tongue, fathered two children outside of marriage and he legitimized both of them, a son and a daughterthat was most influential. He Vernacular poetry had a deep interest begun to flourish in education the 13th and became involved in some polemics against those who championed the traditional approach to education14th centuries, which was largely influenced by and the teachings works of Dante and the ChurchSicilian School are still considered masterpieces of European literature.<ref> MazzottaBurckhardt, GiuseppeJacob. The worlds Civilization of Petrarch. No. 14 the Renaissance in Italy (North CarolinaLondon, Duke University PressPenguin Books, 19931990), p. 119.117</ref>In Dante, one of the 1360s he settled in Florence and later Padua but world’s greatest poets, was a friend of Petrarch’s father. The writer had to move regularly because a major impact on the development of outbreaks poetry in the Renaissance. Petrarch is often credited as the sonnet's inventor, one of the Black Deathmost popular poetic forms in the western tradition. In 1367 This is a fourteen-line poem in the meter known as iambic pentameter. However, he returned really only perfected the form, and he introduced innovations that allowed poets to Padua and remained there until his death use language in 1374a very expressive way.

====His impact on Petrarch also developed new literary devices such as the literature of extended metaphor. He was not the Renaissance====While Petrarch wrote first to write about love in both Latin a very romantic way and Italian it is arguably about an idealized beloved. However, his works and especially poems dedicated to his love of Laura were very influential popularized the writing of love poetry in Italy and beyond. His use of sonnets to express his native tongue that inner life and emotions was most influentialrevolutionary and original. Vernacular poetry had begun This did much to encourage poets to flourish write in the 13th and 14th century, and the works of Dante a more personal and the Sicilian School are still considered to be masterpieces of European literatureintrospective style.<ref> BurckhardtKirkham, Victoria, Jacoband Armando Maggi. [https://www.amazon. The Civilization of com/gp/product/0226437426/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0226437426&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=d4399bf8121c44314571579562bd2c77 Petrarch: A Critical Guide to the Renaissance in Italy, Complete Works]. (LondonChicago, Penguin BooksUniversity of Chicago Press, 19902009), p 117. 119</ref> Dante, one of the world’s greatest poets, was a friend of Petrarch’s father. The writer had a major impact on the development of poetry in the Renaissance. Petrarch is often credited as the inventor of the sonnet, one of the most popular poetic forms in the western tradition. This is a fourteen-line poem in the metre known as iambic pentameter. However, he really only perfected the form and he introduced innovations that allowed poets to use language in a very expressive way.

Petrarch also developed new literary devices such as 's verse became the extended metaphormodel for lyrical poets for many centuries. He was not His sonnets, known as the first to write about love Petrarchan Sonnet, were very popular in a very romantic way and about an idealized belovedElizabethan England. HoweverThe Italian clearly influenced Shakespeare, and he developed his poems dedicated to his love own style of Laura were very influential popularized the writing of love sonnet, known as the Shakespearian sonnet, based on Petrarch’s verse. The Italian wrote his poetry in Italy and beyond. His use of sonnets to express his inner life and emotions was revolutionary and originalthe Tuscan dialect, as had Dante. This did much led it to encourage poets to write become the standard form of literary expression in the Italian Peninsula, which had many regional dialects. The Italian was not only a more personal and introspective stylegreat poet; he also was a great prose writer.<ref> KirkhamHe wrote the first autobiography since the classical era, Victoria and Armando Maggi. Petrarch: A Critical Guide this was a landmark in the development of the genre and encouraged more writers to the Complete Workscompose their memoirs and life-story. (ChicagoHis dialogues, letters, University of Chicago Pressand other works, 2009)in Latin, pinspired many imitators in the Renaissance. 119</ref>

== Was Petrarch's verse became the model for lyrical poets for many centuriesFirst Humanist? ==[[File: Petrarch Two. His sonnetsjpg|300px|thumb|left| Mont Ventoux’ which inspired Petrarch to write one of the most important documents of the Renaissance]]Humanism was a cultural movement that valued human qualities, known such as the Petrarchan Sonnetreason, and argued that this world had worth and meaning, contrary to Christian teachings. It taught that human agency could improve society and give dignity and freedom to individual life.<ref> Nauert, were very popular in Elizabethan EnglandCharles G. Shakespeare was clearly influenced by Humanism and the Italian and he developed his own style Culture of sonnetRenaissance Europe: Second Edition. (Cambridge, known as the Shakespearian sonnetCambridge University Press, based on Petrarch’s verse. The Italian wrote his poetry in the Tuscan dialect2006), p 115</ref> Petrarch is often regarded as had Dante ,and this led it to become the standard form Father of literary expression in the Italian Peninsula, which had many regional dialects. The Italian was not only a great poet Humanism because he also was a great prose writer. He wrote the first autobiography since helped popularize the classical era world and this was a landmark literature study. He rediscovered many manuscripts in the development of the genre monasteries and encouraged had Greek works translated to Latin so that they could be more writers to compose their memoirs readily read and life-story. His dialogues, letters, and other works, in Latin inspired many imitators in the Renaissancestudied.

====The First Humanist====[[File: Petrarch Two.jpg|250px|thumb|left| Mont Ventoux’ which inspired Petrarch to write one of the most important documents of the Renaissance]]Humanism was a cultural movement that valued human qualities, such as reason and argued that this world had worth and meaning, which was contrary to Christian teachings. It taught that human agency could improve society and give dignity and freedom to individual life.<ref> Nauert, Charles G. Humanism and the Culture of Renaissance Europe: Second Edition. (Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2006), p 115</ref> Petrarch is often regarded as the Father of Humanism. This is because he helped to popularize the study of the classical world and literature. He rediscovered many manuscripts in monasteries and had Greek works translated to Latin, so that they could be more readily read and studied. Petrarch believed that the study of the classics could enhance a person, intellectually and morally and this , which became axiomatic among humanists. The Italian in his works He encouraged his readers to take an interest in nature and helped to formulate a new aesthetic, which did not regard the world as a ‘vale of tears’ but as something that was beautiful and could help a person to develop spiritually .<ref>Naubert, p. 18.</ref>. His famous ‘Letter on the ‘Ascent of Mont Ventoux’ is regarded as a landmark, which argued that a delight in nature could be morally and spiritually uplifting.<ref> Petrarch Epistolae familiares (IV, 1) </ref> This is held by many to have initiated a move to the re-discovery of the world after the Middle Ages and its focus on the life to come, which was a characteristic of the humanists. This ultimately led to the rational examination of the world and this had dramatic consequences in the fields as diverse as science, politics and philosophy. Moreover, the poet in his writings was very much interested in the interior life of a person and suggested that everyone had a rich inner life, a key tenet of humanism. He held that the individual was important, and this was radical for the time. <ref>Bishop, Morris Petrarch and His World. (Bloomington, Indiana. Indiana University Press 1963), p 118</ref> However, Petrarch was conflicted, he was a very religious man and yet he admired the pagan classical world. He was ultimately able to resolve this by arguing that the classical and pagan world could help a person to become more moral and to achieve salvation. This did much to ensure that humanism and its love of the classical past was acceptable in an Italy and Europe that was still staunchly Christian.<ref>Bishop. p. 201</ref>

====Inventing Petrarch initiated the move to the world's re-discovery after the Middle Ages and its focus on the Renaissance====In some wayslife to come, the poet which was not only one a characteristic of the most important figures humanists. This ultimately led to the world's rational examination, which had dramatic consequences in fields as diverse as science, politics, and philosophy. Moreover, the Renaissance, poet in his writings was very interested in a sense he invented it. The Renaissance is widely seen as person's interior life and suggested that everyone had a rich inner life, a period key tenet of ‘re-birth’ when Europe rediscovered classical values and in humanism. He held that the process used the ancient pastindividual was important, and this was radical for models which ultimately led to the development of more modern ways of thought time. <ref>Bishop, Morris Petrarch, and His World. (Bloomington, Indiana. Indiana University Press 1963), p. 213118</ref>. However, Petrarch was conflicted, he was a very religious man, yet he admired the first pagan classical world. He was ultimately able to recognize that the study of the past resolve this by the humanists was a new period in history and one arguing that would revive the glory of Rome classical and Greece. He portrayed it as distinct from previous centuries which he described as ignorant pagan world could help a person become more moral and a ‘Dark Age’ achieve salvation. This was not strictly true because learning in Europe had been growing since the 12th century. Indeed, many have argued did much to ensure that humanism and its love of the Renaissance classical past were acceptable in an Italy and elsewhere were a direct result of trends in the Middle AgesEurope that was still staunchly Christian. Petrarch’s conception of the Renaissance as something distinct from the Medieval world has been profoundly influential and it remains so to this day<ref> Burckhardt, JacobBishop. p. The Civilization of 201</ref> == Did Petrarch Invent the Renaissance in Italy. ? ==

Petrarch. F. <i>[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0674003462/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0674003462&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=8d4d4d3b70930d2aa653d7f7ecdc7f34 My Secret Book]</i>, (Secretum), translated by Nicholas Mann. Harvard University Press.

Petrarch, F. <i>[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002RI8ZR8/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B002RI8ZR8&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=4bee49c555d5352c5fcc100a5b77bf78 Canzoniere]</i>, translated by Anthony Mortimer (London: Penguin, 2002).

Giustiniani, Vito "Homo, Humanus, and the Meanings of Humanism.". Journal of the History of Ideas 46 (1985), pp 167 – 95

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