How was Cicero received during the Renaissance?

Cicero was received during the Renaissance as the foundational figure for humanism, public affairs, and classical Roman culture. Petrarch's rediscovery of Cicero's letters is widely credited with igniting the 14th-century Renaissance movement. Scholars argue that the entire period was essentially a revival of Cicero and, through him, the rest of classical antiquity.

What we know

• Petrarch's rediscovery of Cicero's letters is often credited with initiating the 14th-century Renaissance in public affairs, humanism, and classical Roman culture. [2]
• Polish historian Tadeusz Zieliński stated that the Renaissance was above all a revival of Cicero, and only through him of the rest of classical antiquity. [2]
• Aristotelian logic had gained prominence in emerging universities during the Middle Ages, displacing Latin literary traditions until Petrarch revived them in the 14th century. [3]

Where to go next

• the bigger pictureWhat was Renaissance humanism?
• what caused itHow did Petrarch rediscover Cicero's letters?
• whenWhat was the Renaissance of the 12th century?
• what followedHow did Cicero influence the Enlightenment?
• whoWho was Antonius Volscus?
• an unexpected connectionHow did a Roman playwright's work connect to a Renaissance scholar's commentary?A work by the ancient Roman orator Gaius Titius may have been mentioned by the Renaissance scholar Antonius Volscus in a commentary on Ovid.

Sources

• [1]Cicero (Wikidata Q1541) · CC0 1.0
• [2]Cicero · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [3]Renaissance of the 12th century · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [4]Renaissance humanism · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [5]Gaius Titius · CC BY-SA 4.0