How did Renaissance humanists differ from medieval scholars in their approach to knowledge?

• A. They emphasized empirical observation and classical sources in addition to religious ideas.
• B. They rejected classical sources entirely.
• C. They focused exclusively on religious dogma.
• D. They discarded human potential.

Answer: (C)

Renaissance humanists broadened how knowledge is approached by reviving and studying classical Greek and Roman texts directly, often in their original languages, and by building a curriculum that includes history, ethics, and rhetoric alongside religious ideas. They treated ancient writings as valuable sources of wisdom to be read critically and interpreted, not as unquestioned authorities. This shift moved learning away from a purely theological framework toward a more human-centered approach that still valued faith but emphasized human potential and secular subjects as well. In contrast, medieval scholars tended to center knowledge within religious doctrine and the scholastic method, aiming to harmonize faith with reason.