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More commonly known as Dante, Durante is also most famous for The Divine Comedy. His work is considered by many a masterpiece of world literature. He is greatly called by many "The Supreme Poet" or "Father of the Italian language". Before writing poetry, he was a statesman, but was banished, which led to him writing his works in Italian, not Latin. He apparently recieved his inspiration from heavenly visions, like depicted in the Inferno.
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As one of the earliest humanists, Petrarch (English) is known as the "Father of Humanism". The model for the modern Italian language was mainly based off of his works. His sonnets were the basis for lyrical poetry. He was first to develop the concept of the "Dark Ages". He mainly wrote his poetry in Latin.
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An important Renaissance Humanist, Boccaccio was student and friend to Petrarch. Almost certainly born illegitimate, he wrote in Italian with a unique dialogue. His parents married him to a wife when he was one year old, with whom he later had his own children. As an author and poet in Italy, he's most famous fot the Decameron. The Decameron took one to three years to complete.
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One of the most horrible pandemics in human history, the Black Death is caused by a certain bacterium. Originating in cenral Asia, it killed 30% of China's population before spreading west. It then killed 30-60% of Europe's population. It actually had three major outbreaks in Europe. All together it lowered the world population by about 87 million people in the 14th century alone.
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Brunelleschi was an architect and engineer, despite being trained to become a lawyer like his father. He became a master goldsmith before becoming famous. He overall sculpted, designed, and invented many great works in Florence. He discovered perspective and designed the dome of Santa Maria del Fiore. This dome is an engineering masterpiece, which he made alone after getting rid of his rival partner who beat him at a metal sculpting contest years ago.
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Donatello was an early Renaissance sculptor from Florence. He studied with Brunelleschi in Rome, giving both great knowledge about ancient Greco-Roman architecture. Known for his work in bas-relief, a form of sculpting, Donatello made the bronze David sculpture. Now his most famous work, it was the first major Renaissance sculpture.
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A member of the infamous Medici family, Cosimo inherited great wealth. He was actually the first of the Medici political dynasty. Being wealthy, he controled Florence by controlling votes. He was also closely tied to the Pope, despite the fued between the Church and the Medicis generations later. His power and influence made him an important figure in the Renaissance.
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Even though he lived early during the Renaissance, Gutenberg made his contributions in his country of Germany. He introduced printing to Europe, which is major in history. Probably the most important event of the time was his invention of the press, because it had many more consequences. The list include science, education, and Reformation revolutions, which all have effects today. Despite becoming bankrupt after a court case, he kept printing his Gutenberg Bibles.
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Leonardo da Vinci is probably the most famous Renaissance Man. He was a polymath, being skilled in very many fields, from math and science to architecture and inventing. He was of course a painter and sculptor as well. His works include Mona Lisa, Last Supper, and many more. He percieved and drew modern technologies like the helicopter, tank, submarine, solar power, calculator, hang glider, and many more which have been tested today and found mostly successful by his original design.
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