About how humanists establish contacts with fellow humanists

[gaboraa]

Hey there!

My recent studies on renaissance humanism prove that I know less than I thought so. I am reading a book entitle "Word of Humanism" by Myron P. Gilmore but it wouldn't help so far in my quest. Therefore I am here for others opinion on some matters.
How did the humanists gain influential offices, establish contacts with fellow humanists throughout Europe and change the course of European history?
This question keeps me busy lately and I want to hear some opinions about this matter if anyone is willing to share their thoughts.

[Anton Hermes]

Believe it or not, it was through Facebook.

[gaboraa]

I believe you because my Renaissance lecturer said the same thing also:))

[Charles Darnay]

Through literature mainly. The great works of the Classical period were largely hidden away in monasteries - you would find Christian texts written on top of older Greek-Roman texts. As people working in the church as clerks or scholars began to discover these texts, they began to develop what became humanism. They would write the own treatises inspired by the Classical philosophers - then others would develop their own philosophies based on these early Renaissance treatises - and in that way Humanism spread.

[loe]

Not to forget rich families who supported such literary works - e.g. the relationship of Marsilio Ficino with the Medicis.

[WyattGwyon]

After reading Eco's The Prague Cemetery, I had the impression that such communication and interaction, outside the influence and reach of the RCC and other powerful religious institutions, was a goal of numerous secret societies, like the Freemasons. Of course, this book is fiction . . .

[Charles Darnay]

I think you are confusing who the humanists were. Great book though.

[WyattGwyon]

I think you are confusing who the humanists were. Great book though.

Oh, I see. Yes. I had in mind secular humanists in a generic sense.

[cafolini]

Oh, I see. Yes. I had in mind secular humanists in a generic sense.

Humanism is much older than estimated in this thread. Check the roots, like humus, humil, humillated. They begin to appear as a result of Rome holding men down from evolution and progress. And incidentally, Freemasons were never humanists. In the 16th century, Rome tried again under the Roman Catholic church, but they were already finished. Freemasons were an offshoot of Lutheranism and Fabianism (evolutionary socialism). The Russians took humanism and advanced it to the nth power with communism. The Russians made the mistake of assuming that humanism was very well established when in truth it was slowly being finished.