Who was Dante? Actually, that's two questions in one. First, how did this hard-working if not formerly brilliant poet and would-be politician from a rather lackluster family end up writing COMEDY, arguably the greatest work of Western literature?

Second, when was Dante? What was his historical moment like?

Join me, Mark Scarbrough, as I tell you a bit about the the poet's upbringing, his troubles, and the times he lived in, reaching back to the early 1200s to bring his story up to and just beyond his death in 1321.

Here are the segments of this episode of WALKING WITH DANTE:

[00:53] Dante is a nickname!

[01:56] Dante's birth.

[04:10] Some historical context, starting in 1215 CE.

[07:44] Medieval clan warfare on the Italian peninsula.

[13:39] Dante's childhood and upbringing.

[14:45] Beatrice, the love of Dante's life.

[17:56] Dante's teacher (maybe): Brunetto Latini.

[19:46] Dante's political career.

[22:16] Dante on the run.

[26:15] The Avignon papacy.

[27:32] Dante's patrons and later life.