Renaissance Humanism was an intellectual movement that began in Italy in the 14th century and spread across Europe, marking a transition from the Middle Ages to the Modern era. Its proponents, known as humanists, advocated for a curriculum based on the study of 'humanities'—grammar, rhetoric, history, poetry, and moral philosophy. They were inspired by the rediscovery of ancient Greek and Roman texts, which had been largely neglected in the West for centuries. Figures like Petrarch sought to recover and preserve these manuscripts, believing that the wisdom of the classical past could help individuals achieve their full potential. Humanism shifted the focus of education away from the purely religious and toward the study of human experience and the development of the individual. This did not mean a rejection of Christianity; rather, many humanists believed that a well-rounded education enhanced one's ability to serve God and society. The movement was also fueled by the invention of the printing press, which allowed for the rapid dissemination of humanist ideas and classical texts to a growing audience of scholars and laypeople.