Rhetoric during the Renaissance was viewed as an aid to contemplation and moral refinement. It is said to be the basis for precriptive manuals on how to conduct ones self in a public. Second, it is said the Rhetoric was a path to poltical power. Comparing Rhetoric in the Renaissance they seem to be somwhat similar in the way it talks about how it can lead to poltical power. The sophists taught Rheortic first to those citizens who could afford it. These were the people most likely to hold a postion of power because they were educated.