Dante Alighieri (1265-1321) was an Italian poet, philosopher, and political thinker. He is best known for his epic poem, the Divine Comedy, which is widely considered to be one of the greatest works of world literature. He is also credited with establishing the Tuscan dialect as the standard Italian language. Dante's influence on Western culture has been immense, and his works have been translated into many languages. He is seen as a major figure in the development of the Italian Renaissance, and his works have been studied and admired for centuries. Dante's legacy continues to this day, and his works remain an important part of the Italian literary canon.