This course examines the history of Renaissance humanism and explores its connections to the modern world. Through primary and secondary sources and the dynamic medium of film, students will study the emergence and flowering of Renaissance humanism, particularly in Florence, and examine its influence on modernism. As an age defined by revolutionary developments in art, education, religion, politics, and economics, this vibrant period in history will be studied using an interdisciplinary approach with a particular emphasis on art, literature, and religion. The course will also consider the unique contributions as well as limitations film provides in understanding history.