, Italy, Denmark, and other countries, and
they doubtless furthered the idea of the maintenance of education at
public expense, an idea that has come to have universal acceptance.

=Summary of the Influence of Humanism.=--1. It laid the foundation for
future liberty of thought and conscience.

2. It revived the study of the classic languages, and gave them a place
in education which they still hold.

3. It utilized the art of printing by placing the works of ancient
authors in form to be used by the world.

4. It increased the number of students in the universities, and
stimulated intelligence among the masses.

5. It changed courses of study, making them more practical.

6. It exerted an influence on schools of all kinds by giving better
preparation to teachers.

7. It stimulated all forms of elevating activity,--in art, in science,
in exploration, in invention.

8. It prepared the way for the Reformation, which broadened and
perfected the work thus inaugurated.

FOOTNOTES:

[50] "Philosophy of Literature," p. 123.

[51] _Ibid._

CHAPTER XXVII

HUMANISTIC EDUCATORS

=Literature.=--_Spofford_, Library of Historical Characters; _Symonds_,
Renaissance in Italy; _Reeve_, Petrarch; _Macaulay_, Essays; _Warner_,
Library of the World's Best Literature (see articles on Dante, Petrarch,
and Boccaccio); _D'Aubigne_, History of the Reformation; _Morris_, Era
of the Protestant Revolution; _Leclerc_, Life of Erasmus; _Fisher_,
History of the Reformation; _Mrs. Oliphant_, Dante; _Azarias_,
Philosophy of Literature; _Schwickerath_, Jesuit Education.

The mission of the humanistic leaders was to "awake the dead," for Greek
had become in the fullest sense a dead language, and while classic Latin
was still read, its spirit was not comprehended and therefore it also
was practically dead. We have seen that the Italians were the first to
catch the inspiration of this revival, and Germany, France, Spain, and
England "were invited to her feast." The great leaders of Italy were
Dante, Petrarch, and Boccaccio. It is not the purpose here to discuss
these men in all of their intellectual activities, but simply to
consider the part of their work that had a bearing on education.

THE ITALIAN HUMANISTS

DANTE (1265-1321)

Dante was born and educated in Florence. He was favored with a devoted
teacher, Brunetto Latini, who was said to be "a great philosopher and a
consummate master of rhetoric, not only knowing how t