Petrarch was a scholar and poet of early Renaissance Italy, and one of the earliest humanists. Petrarch's
sonnets were admired and imitated throughout Europe during the Renaissance and became a model for lyrical
poetry. He is also known for being the first to develop the concept of the "Dark Ages".Petrarch was born in the
Tuscan city of Arezzo on 20 July 1304. Petrarch spent his early childhood in the village of Incisa, near Florence.
Petrarch studied law at the University of Montpellier (1316–20) and Bologna (1320–23). His lifelong friend and
schoolmate was Guido Sette, future archbishop of Genoa. Because his father was in the legal profession (a
notary), he insisted that Petrarch and his brother also study law.
Petrarch obeyed, but considered these seven years wasted as he was mostly interested in writing and Latin
literature. Petrarch disliked the legal system as he considered it to be the art of selling justice. After the death
of their parents, Petrarch and his brother Gherardo went back to Avignon in 1326, where he worked in
numerous clerical offices. This work gave him much time to devote to his writing.Petrarch traveled a lot across
Europe. On his travels he discovered many ancients manuscripts. In 1345 he personally discovered a collection
of Cicero's letters not previously known to have existed, the collection Epistulae ad Atticum, in the Chapter
Library (Biblioteca Capitolare) of Verona Cathedral.His career in the Church did not allow him to marry, but he
is believed to have fathered two children by a woman or women unknown to posterity. A son, Giovanni, was
born in 1337, and a daughter, Francesca, was born in 1343. He later legitimized both.About 1368 Petrarch and
Francesca (with her family) moved to the small town of Arquà in the Euganean Hills near Padua, where he
passed his remaining years in religious contemplation. He died in his house in Arquà on 18/19 July 1374.: Use
the information above and create a short reading comprehension about Petrarch and create a fill in the gaps
10 questions
Petrarch, a renowned scholar and poet of early Renaissance Italy, was born in the Tuscan city of Arezzo on
___________ (1) 20 July 1304. During his early years, he spent his childhood in the village of Incisa, near
Florence. Despite his father's insistence on studying law, Petrarch's true passion lay in writing and Latin
literature, making him consider the seven years of legal studies as a _________ (2) wasted effort.
After the death of his parents, Petrarch and his brother Gherardo returned to Avignon in 1326. There, he
worked in various clerical offices, which provided him with ample time to pursue his writing. Petrarch was a
dedicated traveler, and his journeys across Europe led him to discover numerous ancient manuscripts.
Notably, in 1345, he personally unearthed a collection of Cicero's letters known as the ___________ (3)
Epistulae ad Atticum, in the Chapter Library of Verona Cathedral.
Despite his career in the Church, Petrarch's beliefs prevented him from marrying. However, he is believed to
have fathered two children, a son named Giovanni, born in _________ (4) 1337, and a daughter named
Francesca, born in _________ (5) 1343. Later on, he legitimized both of them.
Around 1368, Petrarch, along with his daughter Francesca and her family, relocated to the quiet town of
Arquà in the Euganean Hills near Padua. It was there that he spent his final years in _________ (6) religious
contemplation. Petrarch passed away in his house in Arquà on 18/19 July _________ (7) 1374.
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