The Renaissance Project- Analyzing the Goals through Petrarch and Machiavelli
The Main Goal of the Renaissance and How these Two Readings Exemplify that Goal
The Renaissance was a period characterized by evolution from a medieval mindset to a modern mindset that embraced human potential and classical knowledge. The main goal of the Renaissance was to promote contemporary ideas by encouraging people to consider a new approach to situations without overreliance on the medieval ideas passed from one generation to another. Machiavelli (2004) exemplifies this goal by explaining how Germany freed itself from the Roman Empire by ignoring the medieval mindset that promoted the idea that the Roman Empire was a superior power that had to be obeyed by all regions under its control. According to Machiavelli (2004), Germany began taking advantage of the necessities and weaknesses of the emperors in Rome to free themselves by purchasing liberty from the Emperors through their annual tribute until the cities that were directly ruled by the Emperor were no longer under the control of any intermediate lord. Germany relied on human potential and classical knowledge to identify the opportunities it could leverage to acquire freedom, which inspired other regions to rebel against the Roman empire, leading to the rise of independent countries that could plan their civilization.
The goal of the Renaissance is also exemplified in Robinson & Rolf’s (1990) sourcebook. For example, Petrarch explains how his intellect changed from being inclined to poetry and philosophy to being inclined to philosophy alone, particularly sacred literature, after realizing its hidden sweetness. The poet further explains that his perception of poetry changed because he began considering poetry as only an amenity and was mainly interested in the antiquity of people’s age. This description demonstrates a transition from the medieval mindset to the application of human potential and classical knowledge that introduced the idea of philosophy.
The Importance of Renaissance During its Time Period and in the Centuries that Have Followed
The Renaissance was important during this period and in the centuries that followed because it enabled many regions to develop and regain their freedom from dominant powers such as the Roman Empire. According to Machiavelli (2004), people’s bad or good fortune relies on whether they act according to the character of the present times. Many regions that could let go of the medieval mindset benefited from the Renaissance in various ways. For example, Greece rediscovered itself by embracing the ideas spread during the Renaissance, which led to Greek civilization’s scientific, artistic, philosophical, and political achievements that contributed to the growth of Greece as one of the most prosperous regions in the centuries that followed. The Renaissance also led to wealth accumulation in most regions, which increased travel and trade and promoted the spread of ideas used to develop cities.
The Renaissance was also important because it enabled leaders to change their leadership approach. For example, Machiavelli (2004) states that Pope Julius II changed his leadership approach by using passion and impulse after developing other qualities to avoid destruction because people were becoming more enlightened about leadership. The Renaissance also enabled people to be more vocal in expressing their ideas using literature written in different languages. For example, Petrarch stopped paying more attention to language but began focusing on style to express his ideas (Robinson & Rolf, 1990). The use of style in literature was essential in spreading ideas that were later used to develop regions during the Renaissance and the centuries that followed. Other researchers also embraced the use of style to produce literature that explained the history of the different regions that had experienced ancient civilization to inspire other regions to make efforts towards being civilized.
References
Machiavelli, N. (2004). Discourses on the first decade of Titus Livius. The Project Gutenberg eBook of Discourses on the First Decade of Titus Livius. https://www.gutenberg.org/files/10827/10827-h/10827-h.htm
Robinson, J., & Rolf, H. (1990). Francesco Petrarch: Letters, c 1372. Internet history sourcebooks: Medieval sourcebook. https://sourcebooks.fordham.edu/source/
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Question 
In your final module, there are reading selections from two leading figures of the Italian Renaissance, Francesco Petrarch and Niccolo Machiavelli. Both of these writings are, in their way, representative of the Renaissance project. In your final essay of the course, I want you to address the following questions:
The Renaissance Project- Analyzing the Goals through Petrarch and Machiavelli
1. What was the main goal of the Renaissance, and how do these two readings exemplify that goal? You must cite both readings in your answer.
2. How important was the Renaissance during its period and in the centuries that have followed? There is no correct answer here, but you must support your response with evidence from the course lectures and readings.