Renaissance Discoveries: Petrarch

In this video we look at Petrarch (1304-1374), the poet and scholar who has been called ‘the ‘founder of modern European culture’ and even ‘the first modern man’. He was modern not so much because he looked forward but, ironically, because he cast his gaze back, a thousand years and more into the past, to the writers of antiquity. Looking at the ruins of his own civilisation, he believed poets and historians needed to forge a better future by coming to terms with the past, and by making the precious legacy of the past come to life in the present.

[forbiddenpanda]

One of the best Petrarch videos on YouTube. You haven't posted in a while Ross, I hope you are well.

[dodgecityvanlife]

This is great. I’m reading Durant’s history of the Renaissance, and needed something to supplement the story of Petrarch. I hope you’re well.

[benjs]

Just reread The Book Seller of Florence just after having finished Brunelleschi’s Dome, I hope more is to come! Great video!! 😁

[sebastianarteaga]

Fantastic content. Absolutely fascinating exploring the roots of European Renaissance.

[stevepeterson]

Ross, thanks for the knowledge. I just realized you were in Godfathers of the Renaissance. I still show clips of it in my Humanities course at Tulsa Community College. Brilliant series!

[JohnSmith-wsfq]

Fascinating and wonderfully spoken, thank you!

[fountainpen]

Did Petrarch rediscover or actually invent antiquity?

[thethcent]

With the whole 'It's possible that my name has come down to you' - which is from his letter about his life - isn't it blatant false modesty, especially as he'd been crowned as poet laureate at this point and clearly had a huge ego? Also I'd say someone who tries to predict the future is a futurologist, not a prophet; a prophet is someone who is actually able to see the future, surely.