Scholars shifted scholastic studies to the "humanities," believing them essential for educating good citizens

Petrarch, a Tuscan poet, is considered to be the “Father of Humanism.” Humanism came from an inspired shift from the scholastic curriculum of the medieval era to the curriculum of, what the Romans called the “humanities.” Petrarch was fascinated with classical texts and traveled the world looking for them. As John Merriman states, Petrarch “uncovered the Roman orator and moralist Marcus Tulles Cicero” and used his work “to see in classical philosophy a guide to life based on experience.”^[1] Humanists believed classical writers deserved celebration and imitation. They believed their works could civilize humanity and heavily influenced the politics of the Italian city-states. Humanists insisted that an active life in public affairs and politics were necessary for a prosperous and virtuous civilization. Petrarch's successors continued to uncover and reprint more and more classical texts. And with the printing of books made easier by the invention of the printing press, ancient Greek texts were being reprinted in Latin, as well as vernacular languages like Italian and German. People had far better access to the works of Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle as these works were printed in a more accessible language, available in more libraries, and expanded upon by Renaissance writers.