Renaissance humanists aimed to revive classical learning and promote a return to the values of ancient Greece and Rome. They prioritized the study of humanism, literature, philosophy, and sciences, emphasizing the potential and agency of individuals. Humanists believed that knowledge and education were key to improving society and that humans could shape their own destinies. By placing emphasis on reason and empirical evidence, they laid the groundwork for critical thinking and the scientific method. This pursuit of knowledge during the Renaissance not only fostered cultural flourishing but also significantly impacted art, literature, and eventually, the development of modern Western thought.