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<youtube>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v==Introduction==pdbuYbxMy8A</youtube>  The Italian Renaissance produced many outstanding artists, writers, and thinkers and one of the greatest figures of this era was Francesco Petrarch (1304-1374). He was a great poet, philosopher and writer. The Italian was to have a profound impact on the 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 and their culture and society. Moreover, the Italian can be said to have invented the concept of the Renaissance, which he defined as a return to classical values after the ‘Dark Ages’ of the Medieval World. __NOTOC__

==Europe in the 14th century==The 14th century was in many ways a time of disaster andPetrarch’s father obliged him to study law, but he later abandoned it, darkness. It his first love was marked by terrible warsliterature, famines and of course the Black Deathduring his school years, the most lethal pandemic, known in European history. However, despite tthese disasters there were dramatic changes in European societies. There was an increase in he developed a life-long distance trade love of Latin and urbanisation and feudal society began to break down in many areasthe ancient world. The Catholic Church was dominant, young Francesco entered the church and it influenced every aspect of life in Europetook minor orders. HoweverThis meant that while he was a cleric, it was corrupt and worldly and was riven by disputes. This all he was leading many able to adopt a more secular view of the world live and to reconsider key beliefs such as the imperfectability of humanity. The most advanced area of Europe at this time was Italy. It was a patch-work of city-states which had become centres of trade and industryin society. The peninsula young Italian was also heir of the Roman Empire in financially straitened circumstances after his father's death, and the wealthy urban elite increasingly became interested in the classical world. This led he began to dramatic cultural changes and new ways of looking at the world and novel ways of artistic expression, that soon spread beyond Italy by serve the 15th centurypowerful Cardinal Colonna.

==The life and works of Petrarch==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 court of the Pope who moved to Avignon to escape the disorders and instability in Rome. Petrarch’s father obliged him to study law, but he later abandoned itdiplomat, 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 society. The young Italian was in financial straitened circumstances after the death of his father and he began to serve the powerful Cardinal Colonna. Petrarch was a diplomat and he had as a result a very cosmopolitan outlook, which was very rare in the 14th century. One day while attending mass in 1327 , he saw a lady, at mass, called Laura , whom he fell in love with at first sight , and she became his muse and inspired most of his greatest poetry. During his travels on diplomatic missions , he would write poetry in praise of Laura. There are those who Some have argued that Laura was fictional , a poetic device, but most believe she was a real historical figure. She was probably the wife of a local count and died in 1348. Petrarch became famous throughout Europe after the circulation of his Epic in Latin, Africa, based on the life of a Roman general's life. In 1341 he was invited to Rome and was crowned as Poet Laureate, only the second poet to be honoured in this way, since the fall of the Empire. <ref> Larner, John. Italy in the Age of Dante and Petrarch, 1216-1380. Vol. 2 (London, Longman Publishing Group, 1980), p 118</ref>. He also became friendly with many of the greatest writers of his time, such as Giovanni Boccaccio (1313-1375), the author of the Decameron. The 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 his love of the classics and the classical world <ref>Larner, Vol I, p 201</ref>. His fame continued to grow, and he was sent on more diplomatic mission by the Church. The Italian was an early supporter of Cola Rienzi who failed in a bid to resurrect the Roman Republic and restore popular government in Rome. This made him very unpopular with some of the leading Church figures of the day and possibly harmed his diplomatic career. After 1350 he travelled less and began to dedicate himself more to poetry and he revised many of his earlier lyrics, especially those in Italian and he collected these in his famous Il Canzoniere (Song Book). Despite taking orders, as a cleric, Petrarch, fathered two children outside of marriage and he legitimized both of them, a son and a daughter. He had a deep interest in education and became involved in a number of polemics against those who championed the traditional approach to education, which was largely influenced by the teachings of the Church <ref> Mazzotta, Giuseppe. The worlds of Petrarch. No. 14 (North Carolina, Duke University Press, 1993), p. 119</ref>. In the 1360s he settled in Florence and later Padua but had to move regularly because of outbreaks of the Black Death. In 1367 he returned to Padua and remained there until his death in 1374. [[File: Petrarch 3.jpg|200px|thumb|left| The real-life Laura was Laura De Noves]]

==His impact on the literature of the Renaissance==While Petrarch wrote in both Latin In 1341, he was invited to Rome and Italian it is arguably his works and especially his poetry in his native tongue that was most influential. Vernacular poetry had begun crowned as Poet Laureate, only the second poet to flourish be honored in this way since the 13th and 14th century and the works fall of Dante and the Sicilian School are still considered to be masterpieces of European literatureEmpire. <ref> BurckhardtLarner, JacobJohn. The Civilization [https://www.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 the Age of the Renaissance in ItalyDante and Petrarch, 1216-1380. Vol. 2] (London, Penguin BooksLongman Publishing Group, 19901980), p 117118</ref>. Dante one He also became friendly with many of the world’s greatest poets had actually been a friend writers of Petrarch’s father. The writer washis time, to have a major impact on the development of poetry in the Renaissance. Petrarch is often credited such as Giovanni Boccaccio (1313-1375), the inventor of the sonnet, one author of the most popular poetic forms in the western traditionDecameron. This is The Italian was a fourteengreat letter-line poem writer and was in correspondence with the metre known as iambic pentameterleading thinkers of his time. However Sometime in 1346, he really only perfected the form and he introduced innovations it seems that allowed poets to use language in a very expressive way. Petrarch also developed new literary devices such as the extended metaphor. He was not the first to write about love in had a very romantic way spiritual crisis, and about an idealized belovedhe became more religious. However, his poems dedicated to But he did not abandon his love of Laura were very influential popularized the writing of love poetry in Italy classics and beyondthe classical world. His use of sonnets to express his inner life and emotions was revolutionary and original. This did much to encourage poets to write in a more personal and introspective style<ref> KirkhamLarner, Victoria and Armando Maggi. Petrarch: A Critical Guide to the Complete Works. (Chicago, University of Chicago Press, 2009)Vol I, p. 119201</ref>. Petrarch's verse became the model for lyrical poets for many centuries. His sonnets, known as the Petrarchan Sonnet, were very popular in Elizabethan England. Shakespeare was clearly influenced by the Italian and he developed his own style of sonnet, known as the Shakespearian sonnet, based on Petrarch’s verse. The Italian wrote his poetry in the Tuscan dialect, as had Dante ,and this led it to become the standard form of literary expression in the Italian Peninsula, which had many regional dialects. The Italian was not only a great poet he also was a great prose writer. He wrote the first autobiography since the classical era and this was a landmark in the development of the genre and encouraged more writers to compose their memoirs and life-story. His dialogues, letters, and other works, in Latin inspired many imitators in the Renaissance.

==The First Humanist==Humanism was a cultural movement that valued human qualities, such as reason and argued that this world had worth and meaning, which was contrary His fame continued to Christian teachings. It taught that human agency could improve society and give dignity and freedom to the individual life<ref> Nauertgrow, 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 personally rediscovered many manuscripts in monasteries and had Greek works translated to Latin, so that they could be was sent on a more readily read and studied. Petrarch believed that the study of diplomatic mission by the classics could enhance a person, intellectually and morally and this became axiomatic among humanistsChurch. The Italian in his works encouraged his readers to take was an interest in nature and helped early supporter of Cola Rienzi, who failed to formulate a new aesthetic, which did not regard resurrect the world as a ‘vale of tears’ but as something that was beautiful Roman Republic 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 restore a delight popular government in nature could be morally and spiritually uplifting<ref> Petrarch Epistolae familiares (IV, 1) </ref>Rome. 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 made him very unpopular with some of the humanists. This ultimately led to the rational examination leading Church figures of the world day and this had dramatic consequences in the fields as diverse as science, politics and philosophy. Moreover, the poet in possibly harmed 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 humanismdiplomatic career. 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, After 1350 he was a very religious man traveled less and yet he admired the pagan classical world. He was ultimately able began to resolve this by arguing that the classical and pagan world could help a person to become dedicate himself more moral and to achieve salvationpoetry. This did much to ensure that humanism He revised many of his earlier lyrics, especially Italian, and its love of the classical past was acceptable he collected these in an Italy and Europe that was still staunchly Christian <ref>Bishop. phis famous Il Canzoniere (Song Book). 201</ref>. [[File: Petrarch Two.jpg|200px|thumb|left| Mont Ventoux’ which inspired Petrarch to write one of the most important documents of the Renaissance]]

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 education, which was largely influenced by the Church's teachings.<ref> Mazzotta, Giuseppe. The worlds of Petrarch. No. 14 (North Carolina, Duke University Press, 1993), p. 119.</ref>In the 1360s, he settled in Florence and later Padua but had to move regularly because of outbreaks of the Black Death. In 1367 he returned to Padua and remained there until he died in 1374. ==Inventing the What was Petrarch's impact on Renaissanceliterature? ==In some ways<dh-ad/>While Petrarch wrote in both Latin and Italian, it is arguably his works, especially his poetry in his native tongue, that was most influential. Vernacular poetry had begun to flourish in the 13th and 14th centuries, and the poet was not only one works of Dante and the Sicilian School are still considered masterpieces of European literature.<ref> Burckhardt, Jacob. The Civilization of the most important figures Renaissance in Italy (London, Penguin Books, 1990), p 117</ref> Dante, one of the Renaissanceworld’s greatest poets, in was a sense he invented itfriend of Petrarch’s father. The writer had a major impact on the development of poetry in the Renaissance . Petrarch is widely seen often credited as the sonnet's inventor, one of the most popular poetic forms in the western tradition. This is a period of ‘refourteen-birth’ when Europe rediscovered classical values line poem in the meter 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 the process used extended metaphor. He was not the ancient pastfirst to write about love in a very romantic way and about an idealized beloved. However, for models which ultimately led his poems dedicated to his love of Laura were very influential popularized the development writing of love poetry in Italy and beyond. His use of sonnets to express his inner life and emotions was revolutionary and original. This did much to encourage poets to write in a more modern ways of thought personal and introspective style.<ref>BishopKirkham, Victoria, and Armando Maggi. [https://www.amazon.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 Complete Works]. (Chicago, University of Chicago Press, 2009), p. 213119</ref> Petrarch's verse became the model for lyrical poets for many centuries. His sonnets, known as the Petrarchan Sonnet, were very popular in Elizabethan England. The Italian clearly influenced Shakespeare, and he developed his own style of the sonnet, known as the Shakespearian sonnet, based on Petrarch’s verse. Petrarch The Italian wrote his poetry in the Tuscan dialect, as had Dante. This led it to become the standard form of literary expression in the Italian Peninsula, which had many regional dialects. The Italian was not only a great poet; he also was a great prose writer. He wrote the first autobiography since the classical era, and this was a landmark in the development of the genre and encouraged more writers to recognize that compose their memoirs and life-story. His dialogues, letters, and other works, in Latin, inspired many imitators in the Renaissance. == Was Petrarch the study First Humanist? ==[[File: Petrarch Two.jpg|300px|thumb|left| Mont Ventoux’ which inspired Petrarch to write one of the past by most important documents of the humanists Renaissance]]Humanism was a new period cultural movement that valued human qualities, such as reason, 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, 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 because he helped popularize the classical world and literature study. He rediscovered many manuscripts in history monasteries and had Greek works translated to Latin so that they could be more readily read and one studied.  Petrarch believed that would revive the glory study of Rome the classics could enhance a person, intellectually and Greecemorally, which became axiomatic among humanists. He portrayed it encouraged his readers to take an interest in nature and formulate a new aesthetic, which did not regard the world as distinct from previous centuries which he described a ‘vale of tears’ but as ignorant something that was beautiful and could help a ‘Dark Age’ person develop spiritually.<ref>Naubert, p. This was not strictly true because learning in Europe had been growing since 18.</ref> His famous ‘Letter on the 12th century. Indeed‘Ascent of Mont Ventoux’ is regarded as a landmark, many have which argued that delight in nature could be morally and spiritually uplifting.<ref> Petrarch Epistolae familiares (IV, 1) </ref>  Petrarch initiated the move to the world's re-discovery after the Renaissance in Italy Middle Ages and elsewhere were its focus on the life to come, which was a direct result characteristic of trends in the Middle Ageshumanists. Petrarch’s conception of This ultimately led to the Renaissance world's rational examination, which had dramatic consequences in fields as diverse as something distinct from science, politics, and philosophy. Moreover, the poet in his writings was very interested in a person's interior life and suggested that everyone had a rich inner life, a key tenet of humanism. He held that the Medieval world has been profoundly influential individual was important, and it remains so to this daywas radical for the time. <ref>Bishop, Morris Petrarch, and His World. (Bloomington, Indiana. Indiana University Press 1963), p 118</ref> BurckhardtHowever, Petrarch was conflicted, he was a very religious man, Jacobyet 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 become more moral and achieve salvation. The Civilization This did much to ensure that humanism and its love of the Renaissance classical past were acceptable in an Italyand Europe that was still staunchly Christian. <ref>Bishop. p. 201</ref> == Did Petrarch Invent the Renaissance? ==

==Conclusion==Petrarch was undoubtedly one of the most significant influences on the Renaissance not only in Italy but throughout Europe. His poetry was to inspire other poets in the period and laterGiustiniani, to examine their interior life and emotions and to celebrate the natural world and to see love as something spiritual. His literary forms such as the sonnet and autobiography persuaded many writers to adopt a more personal style. Petrarch was also if not the ‘Father of Humanism’ certainly one of its leading lights. Vito For example"Homo, his works and scholarship didHumanus, much to encourage an appreciation of Graeco-Roman civilization and this was radical as it helped to counter the stifling influence of the Church and Papacy. His writings and philosophy promoted a more secular and rational worldview and promoted a greater awareness of the importance Meanings of the individualHumanism. This had important repercussion and encouraged a belief that this world was important and not just salvation. This encouraged a rediscovery " Journal of not only the ancient world but a growing investigation History of the world and society that led to a more modern outlook and one that was not wholly influenced by Christianity. ==Further Reading==Petrarch. F. My Secret Book, Ideas 46 (Secretum1985), translated by Nicholas Mann. Harvard University Press.pp 167 – 95

Giustiniani, Vito "Homo, Humanus, and the Meanings of Humanism". Journal of the [[Category:European History of Ideas 46 (1985), pp 167 – 95]] [[Category:Italian History]] [[Category:Wikis]] [[Category:Renaissance History]]