Francesco Petrarca

{s}Born: July 20, 1304 (Arezzo, Italy)
{s}Died: July 19, 1374 (Arqua Petrarca, Italy)
{s}Achievements:
Rediscovered Cicero's writings
Wrote II Canzoniere, composed of 366 poems
Founded Humanism, a Philosophical stance
{s}Impact: The Humanism stance that he founded influenced writers, painters, and common people during Renaissance. His rediscovery of Cicero's writings is credited for starting the 14th Century Renaissance.