Week 14 Essay

          This week I learned about a few people who completely changed the world around them. In this essay I will be writing about a man named Petrarch. He is known for beginning the Renaissance period.

          Petrarch was a poet who lived in Italy during the 13th century. He loved nature and seeing amazing views and sights to see. Throughout the world, he is known as the first tourist! He examined different cities and buildings in Italy and other parts of the world. He is the first ever recorded person to climb a mountain just for fun. He hiked all the way to the top of Mt. Ventoux just to see the view!

          Petrarch believed that man was in charge of himself and his own life; people could handle problems on their own, not with the help of God. This new belief was called humanism, and it basically portrayed that your own life was more important than God and that people should put themselves first. This idea began what is known as the Renaissance. I personally do not agree with this idea. I think people should always put God first.

          Before Petrarch, the idea of people’s lives being more important than God (or humanism) had never been seen before. Especially since you would barely even believe in God at all, if you put yourself first! When he introduced the new belief style, people began to follow it and the Renaissance period started.

          In conclusion, Petrarch started the idea of humanism, which began the Renaissance period. Petrarch is also known as the first tourist, and he would climb mountains and visit places just for fun. Although I do not agree with his beliefs, I am amazed how he changed the world around him by just doing things differently.