Final answer:
Francesco Petrarca, known as Petrarch, is the 'Father of Humanism.' He played a pivotal role in the Humanism movement, focusing on classical texts to understand and promote human accomplishments, paving the way for the Renaissance.
Step-by-step explanation:
The "Father of Humanism" is D. Francesco Petrarch, commonly known as Petrarch. He was central to the intellectual movement of Humanism that started in 14th-century Italy, which marked a departure from the medieval scholastic priorities and paved the way for the Renaissance. Humanism stressed the study of classic texts to understand human nature and to promote cultural and educational reform. The humanists, including Petrarch, were collectors of antique manuscripts and believed that the wisdom of the classical world could provide contemporary wisdom and were often in roles that supported access to such resources, like the church and government.
Petrarch, along with other intellectuals like Giovanni Boccaccio and Coluccio Salutati, contributed significantly to the revival of the classical heritage and influenced the cultural landscape by highlighting human potential and dignity. This human-centric perspective sought to create eloquent and engaged citizens, capable of contributing to civic life through the study of humanities. This movement led to the Renaissance, which saw a great flourishing of art, literature, and science.