Dante Alighieri (1265–1321) was an Italian poet, writer, and philosopher best known for his epic poem The Divine Comedy, widely regarded as one of the greatest works of world literature. Born in Florence, Italy, Dante was deeply involved in the political life of his city, which eventually led to his exile in 1302 due to factional conflicts. His most famous work, The Divine Comedy, written in Italian rather than Latin, describes a symbolic journey through Hell (Inferno), Purgatory (Purgatorio), and Paradise (Paradiso). It explores themes of sin, redemption, and divine justice and reflects Dante’s religious beliefs, personal experiences, and philosophical ideas. Dante’s use of the Tuscan dialect helped establish it as the standard Italian language. He is considered the “father of the Italian language” and a towering figure in medieval European literature. Dante died in exile in Ravenna in 1321.