Authors and work

• Petrarch, known as the father of humanism, wrote my secrets, a work in Latin, in the first person, about emotions, stating that everyone has creative potential given by God, laying the foundations of Renaissance humanism.
• Boccaccio was an Italian poet and scholar that wrote Decameron which was a written work about love, fortune and intelligence. It marked a shift from literature about religion and the aristocracy to works about everyday people.
• Dante is considered the greatest Italian poet known for his Divine Comedy in which he visits paradise, purgatory, and hell. This work was written in the vernacular, influencing others to do the same as well. The Divine Comedy has also influenced many parts of pop culture
• Castiglione was an Italian author that wrote the Book of the Courtier which was an account on the experiences of court life. It stated that the ideal man should be educated, talented and athletic. This emphasized individualism, humanism and self-improvement
• Chaucer- English poet and author who promoted the use of Middle English in the vernacular that is best known for writing Canterbury Tales. His work is a satire that was made to criticize the church and other social problems. He was also “Father Of English Literature.”
• Pico della Mirandola, an Italian philosopher, wrote the "Oration of the Dignity of Man," which emphasized that humans have unlimited potential given by God. This work is a key example of Renaissance humanism, highlighting the importance of exploration and learning.
• Vasari was Italian painter, art historian, and architect during the Renaissance, best known for his written work Lives of the Artists. In this work he described what artists valued and practiced in their daily lives during the 13th to 16th century. It is the most important secondary source of Italian Renaissance art.
• Rabelais is French writer and priest who wrote Gargantua and Pantagruel, a work that uses satire to humorously critique beliefs from the time period before the Renaissance and also introduced new words to the French language
• Thomas More wrote Utopia and published in 1516, which describes the political system of the ideal country on an imaginary island. He lived in the Renaissance philosophy 16th century. Emphasis on communal living, justice, and the pursuit of knowledge are notable aspects of More’s vision in Utopia. He served as Lord Chancellor under King Henry VIII. He was later canonized as a saint by the Catholic Church.
• Eramus is Dutch Christian humanist, Catholic theologian educationalist, satirist and philosopher who is most famous for his “In Praise of Folly” and “Discussion on Free Will”. In Praise of Folly is a work that states that ignorance is bliss and being too smart will make you depressed. Discussion on Free Will states that all humans have free will and that the idea of predestination goes against what is taught in the Bible.
• French theologian most famous for introducing the idea of predestination, creating his own protestant branch of Christianity. His Institutes of the Christian Religion stated that argued for the sovereignty of God and justification by faith alone. It is a very significant Protestant work and it is also a defining work from the reformation


  Calvin
• Loyola 


  He was a priest who started the Jesuit group. He wrote a book called "Spiritual Exercises" to help people get closer to God. It had prayers and stories about Jesus. This book was important during the Counter-Reformation.
• Machiavelli 


  Machiavelli was a diplomat from Florence. He wrote a book called "The Prince" for rulers. He said rulers should do whatever is best for their country, even if it means not following religious or moral rules. He learned from the chaos in Italy and the leaders like the Medici family and Pope Alexander VI.
• Guicciardini 


  He was an Italian historian who wrote "The History of Italy." He focused on how individuals influenced history. His book covers all the politics from 1490 to 1534 and is a crucial record of the Renaissance.
• Copernicus 


  He was a Catholic mathematician and astronomer who wrote "On the Revolution of the Heavenly Spheres." In his book, he proposed the idea that the Earth and other planets orbit the Sun. This challenged the Catholic Church's belief in a geocentric solar system and paved the way for the Scientific Revolution.
• Galileo 


  He was a scientist who wrote a book called "Dialogue on the Two Chief Systems." He compared two ideas about how the planets move: one that said everything moves around Earth, and another that said everything moves around the Sun. He liked the idea that everything moves around the Sun. He was Catholic but liked science and found many new things.
• Newton


  He was an English scientist who wrote "Principia Mathematica." In this book, he explained how things move using math. He talked about acceleration, how fluids move, and how the Earth, Moon, planets, and comets move. His work changed how scientists investigate the world and is crucial for modern physics.
• Bacon

  He was an English thinker who wrote "New Atlantis" and "Novum Organum." He is known for starting the idea of empiricism, which means using observation and evidence to learn about the world. In "New Atlantis," he wanted people to focus on building a good society on Earth instead of just hoping for a perfect place in heaven. "Novum Organum" explained that the best way to learn about things is by observing them closely. His ideas helped develop the scientific method.
• Descartes 


  He was a French thinker who wrote about philosophy, science, and math. He said that the mind is more important than the body because the mind can exist without the body, but the body can't exist without the mind. In his book "Discourse on Method," he explained how to think in a logical way, which was very important to him.
• Pascal


  He was a French mathematician and physicist. He wrote "Pensées," where he defended Christianity with "Pascal's Wager." This idea says it's smart to believe in God because the reward is huge if you're right, and the cost is small if you're wrong.
• Montaigne 


  He was a French thinker known for his book "Essais." He believed that learning from experience was better than just reading books. His "Essais" were his thoughts and observations about the Renaissance in France. He was critical of Renaissance Philosophy, which he thought was deceitful and damaging.
• Cervantes 


  He was a Spanish writer famous for "Don Quixote." This novel is about an older man and can be seen as a chivalrous romance, a story about heroic dreams, or a critique of Spanish history. It's considered the first modern novel ever written.
• Hobbes 


  He was an English philosopher who lived during the English Civil War. His experiences made him believe that people are naturally bad. He wrote "Leviathan," which says that people need a strong government, like an absolute monarchy, to protect them. He argued that life without a strong government would be dangerous and short. His ideas were later used to support Charles I during his trial.
• Spinoza


  He was a Dutch-Jewish philosopher known for his rationalist ideas and early Enlightenment thinking. His famous work, "Ethics," talks about God, the human mind, and freedom, and says that everything is a part of nature. His ideas were influential in scientific thought.
• Locke


  He was an English philosopher known for his ideas on natural law and the social contract. He wrote "Second Treatise on Civil Government" and "Essay Concerning Human Understanding."
• Smith

  He was a Scottish economist and philosopher known for his work during the Scottish Enlightenment. He wrote "The Wealth of Nations," where he argued that economic development could happen naturally without interference if people pursued their own interests. He also advocated for a system with little government involvement, known as laissez-faire.
• Bayle

  French philosopher and writer known for being an advocate of religious toleration, a skeptical philosopher, and is also famous for his Historical and Critical Dictionary. His work is a French biographical dictionary  
• Voltaire


  Voltaire, a French Enlightenment writer and philosopher, is known for “Candide” and the “Philosophical Dictionary, Candide.” His works criticize outdated ideas while promoting Enlightenment ideals.
• Montesquieu 


  Montesquieu be people—so no one got too strong. He wrote Montesquieu's works "The Spirit of the Laws" and "Persian Letters" talk about how governments should be structured and how people should be governed.
• Diderot


  Denis Diderot, a French philosopher, art critic, and writer, believed that improving people's morals would lead to a better society. He is best known for editing and contributing to the "Encyclopedia," a collection of books that aimed to change how people think by promoting Enlightenment ideas.
• Rousseau


  Jean-Jacques Rousseau, a philosopher, believed people are good but society corrupts them. He wrote "The Social Contract," saying true freedom comes from self-made laws. His ideas inspired the French Revolution.
• Swift


  Swift was an Irish writer and satirist, wrote "Gulliver's Travels," a novel that criticizes power abuse, reason limits, and human ambition. His work challenges readers to question human behavior and societal norms.
• Goethe 


  Goethe, a German writer and philosopher, wrote "The Sorrows of Young Werther," a novel about love and longing. Influenced by his emotions, Goethe explores human relationships and the human psyche.
• Beccaria 


  Cesare Beccaria was an Italian who thought a lot about crime and punishment. He wrote a book called "On Crimes and Punishments" where he said punishment should be fair and not just about getting back at someone. He believed punishment should make sense, like helping to stop crime and helping people who did wrong to become better.
• Burke

  Edmund Burke, an Irish thinker, criticized the French Revolution in his book "Reflections on the Revolution in France." He believed in slow, thoughtful change based on the wisdom of the past, unlike the fast, radical changes of the revolution.
• Milton


  John Milton was an English poet who wrote "Paradise Lost." It's a poem about Adam and Eve, their choice to sin, and how they were punished. It makes us think about right and wrong, and why people do bad things.
• Dickens 


  Charles Dickens was an English writer who lived during a time of big changes in industry. He wrote a book called "A Tale of Two Cities" that compares life in London and Paris. The story is about love, sacrifice, and how people can change for the better. Dickens wanted people to understand and care about each other more.
• Darwin


  Charles Darwin was an English scientist who wrote about how animals and plants change over time. He traveled to the Galapagos Islands and saw different species. His book "On the Origin of Species" explains his idea of evolution. Darwin said that animals and plants change to survive better in their environment.
• Marx


  Karl Marx was a German philosopher who believed in communism. He wrote "The Communist Manifesto" to inspire workers to fight against unfair treatment. Marx thought the gap between the rich and the poor was unfair. He wanted a society where everyone was equal.
• Freud


  Sigmund Freud was a doctor from Austria who wrote The Interpertation of Dreams. He thought our dreams show what we really want, even if we don't know it. Freud believed our unconscious mind affects how we act and feel.