Renaissance humanism focuses on the features of classical civilization, including the intellectual and social movements associated with ancient Greece and Rome. People began to explore the power of the human
             mind. Generally, humanism stresses the individual's creative, reasoning, and artistic powers. However, during the Renaissance, individual ideas about humanism differed. There were many ways to express humanism, but one was a rise in appreciation for items of the past. Humanism led to the acceptance and
             understanding of each person's thoughts and ideas. This work defines Renaissance humanism and describes three humanists and their reflection of humanism, Petrarch and his poems to Laura, "The Praise of Folly" written by Erasmus, and last Pico Della Manderalos' "Oration on the Dignity of Man."
             Who was the first humanist? Most scholars would say that Petrarch, an Italian poet, and writer of the "Trecento," would best fit this label. Petrarch was a great admirer of Cicero and rediscovered and translated many of his works. He wrote the "Vernacular", which gained acceptance among scholars in the
             Renaissance. Petrarch was regarded as the greatest scholar of his age. He combined his interest in classical culture and Christianity and left a deep influence on literature throughout Western Europe. A prolific correspondent, he wrote many important letters, and his critical spirit made him a founder of Renaissance humanism. He wrote lovely, tender poems to a beloved woman named Laura, who had died during the Black Death. These poems exhibited humanism by their expression of love for another human being.
             Erasmus was one of the greatest scholars of all time. He was called the Prince of the Humanists and lived at the time of the Renaissance, a period of deep changes characterized by changes in most concepts and a return to older sources. He conceived of himself as a preacher of righteousness and was convinced that what was needed to ...