How did Greek scholars help bring classical works to western Europe during the Renaissance?

Greek scholars played a pivotal role in the Renaissance by facilitating the transmission of classical knowledge to Western Europe, primarily through teaching and the migration of manuscripts.12

• Teaching and Education: A significant turning point occurred in 1397 when the Byzantine scholar Manuel Chrysoloras was invited to Florence to teach Greek. His presence helped establish the study of the Greek language, which was essential for accessing classical literature in its original form.12
• Manuscript Migration: Long before the fall of Constantinople in 1453, Italian scholars and humanists, such as Giovanni Aurispa and Francesco Filelfo, traveled to Constantinople to acquire Greek manuscripts in large quantities. These texts were brought back to Italy, enriching Western libraries.12
• Key Figures: Scholars like George Gemistus Plethon and his pupil John Bessarion were instrumental in this exchange. Bessarion, who remained in Italy and became a cardinal, made a significant donation of books to Venice, further cementing the availability of classical works in the West.1
• Intellectual Impact: This influx of texts and teachers allowed humanists to move beyond medieval compendiums and study classical authors directly, fueling the intellectual revival that defined the Renaissance.23