Dante was born in Florence, Italy in 1265, at a time when Italy was going through their Renaissance. Italy was divided into a group of city states which had a balance of power within themselves but also wanted to expand. The Church was involved politically to seize control of the city states. Florence had become a major city with a growing middle class. But due to opposing forces in the military, middle class, and the Church, the chaos stopped Florence from having a peaceful community.

Dante was born into a Guelf family. He was well educated for his time. As a young man he was in two military wars, and then in 1300 became a member of the “Council of Six” which governed Florence. In 1302, the new government of Florence, condemned Dante to be missing and charged him with wrong crimes, and ordered him to stand trial. When Dante did not appear,

Once Petrarch reaches the summit, his letter becomes upsetting. His mood becomes stressful which indicates his agitation at the memory of his experience at the summit. He talks about years of suffering, and in feeling homesick. At that point his thoughts have turned inward.

Dante's dream was to return to Florence. He tried to return by taking part in a revolution with others who had been exiled, but the revolution failed and he was sentenced to death by fire. Dante was no longer a citizen of any place. He was a beggar, living off the charity of those who respected his skills and accomplishments. Dante lived in Verona for a while, but his last refuge was Ravenna where he spent his final years.

Having confessed his pain to himself he describes his perception of space. The struggle started by his awareness of the landscape and how deeply it effected him, which continued from that day on, Mount Ventoux until the end of his life. The old world was wonderful and full of deep thoughts.

Francis Petrarch was a Renaissance writer and scholar who wrote The Assent of Mount Ventoux in 1336. For his time, his description of Mount Ventoux talks about the discovery of landscape. This was the beginning of an awareness of space that resulted in a major change of European man's attitude toward the world.

Some of the questions that I have as a result of this assignment come from reflecting upon these stories. Am I too closed minded? Do I not look outside the box? Do I continue to live some parts of my life in destructive ways? Do I evaluate myself enough, instead of making up excuses for my faults? Am I purifying my soul not only for myself but for others around me… especially God?

Petrarch's letter was mainly an extension of man's view of the world. The event that Petrarch describes in terms as "certainly of benefit to himself and many others" begins a new realistic, individualistic, and rational understanding of nature. The treatment of space and landscape represents a change away from the closed in world.

Some topics in this essay:
Dante Petrarch, Renaissance Italy, Confessions Petrarch, Paradiso Paradise, Mount Ventoux, Divine Comedy, Virgin Mary, Benard Beatrice’s, Discouraged Dante, Joy Discovery, hell purgatory, mount ventoux, stories dante petrarch, vision space, dante born, petrarch's letter, guidance love, love reason, purification one's, dante petrarch, guidance love reason, purification one's soul, stories dante,