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Which subjects did students study at Vittorino da Feltreās school at La Giocosa?
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Humanism
Marcus Tullius Cicero, detail of a marble bust; in the Capitoline Museums, Rome.
At La Giocosa, the school established by the Renaissance educator Vittorino da Feltre, the curriculum was rooted in the humanistic tradition.
The core subjects included:
- Languages and Literature: A primary focus was placed on the study of Latin and Greek, which were taught to a high level of excellence.12
- Liberal Arts: Students studied the seven arts of the trivium (grammar, rhetoric, and logic) and the quadrivium (geometry, arithmetic, harmonics, and astronomy).2
- Philosophy: After mastering the liberal arts, students progressed to the study of philosophy.2
- Physical Education: Following the Greek ideal of developing both body and mind, the school emphasized games and physical exercises.12
Instruction was conducted entirely in Latin, and mathematics was often taught through games to make the subject more engaging. Vittorino viewed this education as a pathway to a moral, Christian life, prioritizing the character and health of his students.21