The idea that man can be one of the most important parts of creation - in fact the most important one - started to take place in Humanistic and Renaissance Age (15th. - 16th.centuries). According to a new vision of the world and the man’s role in it, Humanists came to affirm the superiority of man on other creatures thanks to his intelligence and rationality. Pico della Mirandola was one of the most important italian Humanists and his Oratio de hominis dignitate is considered a manifesto of this new vision of man after the Middle Age.

To get started: 

What was Humanism?

Who was Giovanni Pico della Mirandola?

Oratio de hominis dignitate: main thesis (in German)

For more information, here there are the materials for the Webquest: