The cultural movement that championed humanism and the arts during the Renaissance was the Renaissance humanism movement itself. Emerging in 14th-century Italy, it emphasized the study of classical texts, the value of human potential, and the importance of individual experience. Artists, poets, and thinkers like Leonardo da Vinci and Erasmus drew inspiration from ancient Greek and Roman works, leading to innovations in literature, philosophy, and art. This movement played a crucial role in shaping modern Western thought, encouraging a shift from medieval scholasticism to a focus on human agency, creativity, and the exploration of the natural world.