The period of the Renaissance (late 14th to early 17th centuries) saw the most intensive reception of Antiquity in European history. The rediscovery, appropriation and further development of the accomplishments of the ancients had a crucial influence in all spheres of early modern culture. This lexicon of Renaissance Humanism traces these processes from the career of Petrarch to the period of the Reformation and confessionalization, in 130 comprehensive articles covering topics, personalities and places of importance in the history of the Humanist movement.