Humanism and the Classical Tradition

Abstract Renaissance humanism was a scholarly movement which profoundly changed European society and intellectual life. Its impact is particularly apparent in educational reforms, which shaped the thinking of elites in Europe and settler societies in the Americas. The chapter begins with an account of the origins of humanism (with particular attention to Petrarch) and then turns to Italian humanism in the fifteenth century. The recovery of the Latin and Greek texts of classical antiquity is discussed, as is the role of wealthy patrons who founded libraries and schools and financed scholarly activities. Particular attention is given to Lorenzo Valla, Angelo Poliziano, and Pico della Mirandola. The focus then shifts to humanism in northern Europe and Spain, and to figures such as Erasmus, Sir Thomas More, and Jean Luis Vives. The chapter concludes with an account of the broader impact of humanism.