They wrote in Latin prose for the most part. Their lyrical output, influenced by classical models and written mostly in Latin and subsequently Greek, was prolific but initially of little value. The first modern writer who is acknowledged as important today is Giovanni Boccaccio (1313–1375). His work introduced a new style of writing called "fiction" that combined elements of history, biography, and legend.
After Boccaccio many more writers appeared, some of them still living during Europe's Renaissance. They include Leonardo Bruni (c. 1370-1444), Pietro Bembo (1470-1547), Girolamo Savonarola (1452-1498), and Galileo Galilei (1564-1642). But the most famous writer of all time may be Michelangelo (1475-1564), who worked mainly on poems, paintings, and sculptures.
The Italian Renaissance was not only about literature but also about art, science, architecture, etc. Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519), Pontano, Castiglione, and others enriched our knowledge about these subjects. During this time city-states such as Venice, Florence, and Milan became powerful countries with influence around the world.
Many works were produced in Latin or Greek, and many more in vernacular (spoken) languages like Italian, French, and German, which broadened the readership and propagated Renaissance ideals. However, many important works were also written in less-known languages such as Czech, Polish, Rumanian, and English.
Books became increasingly popular throughout Europe with the spread of printing technologies. Before the advent of printing, books were expensive to produce and distribute. Only a small percentage of people could read. The Renaissance saw the development of literacy among the upper classes, who needed documentation of knowledge that would help them function within the government bureaucracy or in the church. For example, humanists studied literature and science for their own interest, but they also wrote about these subjects for the general public.
Here are some notable books published between 1450 and 1500:
Dante's Divine Comedy - 1327-1419
The first book is Dante Alighieri's great poem "The Divine Comedy," which he wrote while working as a bureaucrat for the city of Florence. It was not published until after his death due to its controversial content - especially the part where he visits Hell - which caused problems for the family that owned the copyright at the time.
During Ancient Rome, Latin was the primary language for writing. Greek was also a popular language since it was spoken by so many people in the Roman empire's eastern provinces. Other languages used for writing include Egyptian hieroglyphics, Punic (language of Carthage), and several others.
However, not all writings in Ancient Rome were in Latin. Some documents were written in Greek or another language. For example, one of the most important documents in Ancient Rome is called the Edictus ("Edicts") because they were edicts from the emperor that changed or clarified existing law. These documents were often adopted as legislative acts by the Senate and voted on by the People's Assemblies. When they were done with debating, these documents would be inscribed on marble plates and placed inside the temple of Jupiter Capitolinus. The priests at this temple would copy the texts into a special book called the Libri Fecerei ("Book of Incised Letters"). This book was kept in the imperial archives where scholars today can still see some of the manuscripts.
Other examples include letters, bills of sale, and accounts books. All over Rome you will find examples of documents in the Ancient Roman language: Latin.
Greco-Roman inspiration was evident in the subjects of Renaissance writers as well as the literary techniques they employed. New literary genres, such as the essay, as well as new metrical forms, such as the sonnet and Spenserian stanza, appeared. Poets such as Ariosto, Boiardo, and Machiavelli sought to emulate the grandeur of ancient epic poetry.
In Italy, poets such as Petrarch and Boccaccio helped establish a new standard for taste and elegance in language. In France, Guillaume de Machaut pioneered a more practical approach to poetry that focused on telling a story rather than indulging in metaphysical speculation or religious rhetoric. In England, Geoffrey Chaucer introduced a new style of poetic discourse that was accessible to common readers. The English sonnet had an immediate success with poets such as Shakespeare and Donne who were eager to exploit its formal possibilities to the full.
Writing during this period was not merely a pastime for intellectuals; it was also a means by which people tried to make money. Publishers wanted to sell books and so they used their influence with poets to ensure that they wrote poems that would appeal to readers. Writing was therefore becoming more professional and popular culture began to incorporate elements of the craft of writing.
Poetry readings became a regular part of Italian society.
What was the language they used? Other languages were used as well. For example, some documents have been found written in Aramaic or another language of the time.
How did they write? They used an alphabet with 26 letters, which is the same as modern English spelling. Each letter had a sound value, so words could be made out of these letters.
What books were there? Many important books were written in Latin during the era of Rome. Some of them are listed below:
The Aeneid by Virgil. This book is about the hero Aeneas who escapes from Troy with his family after the city is destroyed by Achilles' son Neoptolemus. They travel to Italy where Aeneas starts a new life and has children with the goddess Venus. The book is set in Italy but was probably written in Greece.
The Annals of Tacitus. This book records events that happened during the reign of the first five emperors. It was written by Tacitus, who was born around AD 55. He lived most of his life in Rome where he was a senatorial historian.
What drew these four Renaissance authors together? They were well-known for their religious works. Their works were written in vernacular languages. Their most notable works were written in Latin.
Their names are Thomas Aquinas, Bonaventure, Dante, and Petrarch.
They were all philosophers and theologians whose work laid the foundation for modern philosophy and theology.
They were all members of the Dominican Order. This order was founded in France in 1216 by St. Dominic. It is a Catholic religious order devoted to prayer and preaching about Jesus Christ. The order is known for its learning and its strict observance of monastic discipline.
The Dominicans were important in the early days of Christianity because they went abroad to convert people to Christianity. Also, they studied theology and served as missionaries at the Vatican when needed. Today, there are many different types of Dominicans including priests, brothers, and nuns.
Thomas Aquinas was born in Italy in 1225. He became one of the most important philosophers of his time. His work on metaphysics and ethics is still used today by professors who teach these subjects.
He joined the Dominican order in France and worked as a teacher and philosopher at various universities including Paris, Naples, and Rome.
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