De viris illustribus

De viris illustribus (On Famous Men) was a work by Petrarch, an Italian scholar and poet of the 14th century. This collection was intended to be a series of biographies of notable figures from history. Initially, Petrarch focused on heroes from Roman history, but he later expanded the scope to include famous men from all eras, beginning with Adam.12

Petrarch's aim was to highlight the continuity of ideals across the Old Testament, Classical antiquity, and Christianity. He sought to provide moral examples and draw inspiration from the past, rejecting the prevailing medieval Scholasticism in favor of Classical authors and Church Fathers. This work reflects his humanist ideals and his belief in the importance of studying classical literature for moral and intellectual enrichment.123