“PEOPLE WHO
HAVE MADE A
DIFFERENCE”
“The Renaissance is studded with the names of
the artists and architects, with their creations
recorded as great historical events.”
Arthur Erickson
LIKE EVERY ERA, THE RENAISSANCE AND THE
AGE OF EXPLORATION BRIM WITH STORIES.
Essential Understanding:
Stories of historical people, both
extraordinary and ordinary remind us
that history is more than dates and
abstract concepts. It arises from the
lives of countless individual men and
women, sentient beings, who like
ourselves are faced with problems
and perspectives of their own time.
"There is properly no history; only biography."
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Renaissance
means
“rebirth”…but
?
Teacher Questions:
•What had to be “reborn”…when…and why?
•What was life like for people before the Renaissance?
•What events affected change and “rebirth”?
•Who were the people that affected change and what are their stories?
Student Questions:
•?
•?
Throughout the history of mankind, human technology and culture has
experienced many advancements and setbacks. As a civilization rises, new
technologies are developed, as well as new types of music, art and literature.
Then, years, decades, or even centuries later, as that same civilization begins
to decline, many of these technologies and arts are lost.
“Alaric at Rome”
artist unknown
http://www.powellhistory.com/art/history
Some historians say that the Middle Ages began in AD 476, with
the defeat of the Western Roman Empire. Other historians give the
year 410, when Alaric, king of the Visigoths, sacked Rome.
However, one reason it is difficult to tell exactly when the
Middle Ages began is because the change from ancient ways to
medieval customs came so gradually.
During the decline of the Roman Empire, migrations of German barbarians,
or Teutonic tribes people, who swept across the Rhine and the Danube into
the Roman empire, began to change the life of Europe. They accepted
Christianity and the union of barbarian vigor and religious spirit carried
Europe to the threshold of modern times.
That span from the ancient era to the modern is called the Middle Ages.
The Early Medieval Era is sometimes called the Dark Ages.
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We know relatively little about
events and material culture in
those times.
This era encompasses the reigns
of Charlemagne, Alfred the
Great, and the Danish Kings of
England. It saw frequent Viking
activity, and the birth and rapid
expansion of Islam in Northern
Africa and Spain. During this
time Christianity spread
throughout much of Europe, and
the Papacy evolved into a
powerful political entity.
The High Medieval Era is the period of time that seems to
typify the Middle Ages best (11th century to 1300’s)
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The High Middle Ages saw events such as
Norman conquests in Britain, the earlier
Crusades, and the signing of the Magna Carta.
There was an explosion of stone castlebuilding, and the construction of magnificent
cathedrals throughout Europe.
In terms of material culture and political
structure, the High Middle Ages saw
medievalism at its peak. Feudalism was firmly
established in parts of Europe; trade in luxury
items as well as staples flourished; towns were
granted charters and a well-fed population was
beginning to burgeon.
By the end of the 13th century, Europe was at
an economic and cultural height, perched at the
verge of a downturn.
The Late Middle Ages began in the 1300’s but – the end
of the end is debatable… ranging from 1450 to the 1600’s.
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Cataclysmic and awesome events of the 14th century include the
Hundred Years War, the Black Death, the Italian Renaissance .
The 15th century saw Joan of Arc burned at the stake, the fall of
Constantinople to the Turks, the Moors driven from Spain and the
Jews expelled, and the voyage of Columbus to the New World.
The 16th century was wracked by the Reformation and blessed by
the birth of Shakespeare.
The impact of the crusades on World History cannot be overstated.
•The crusades precipitated the decline of the Byzantine Empire allowing for
the rise of the Ottoman Turks and Russia.
•The crusades enhanced the power of the Catholic Church.
• The crusades reestablished European commerce in the Middle East,
bringing wealth and power back to Italy that exploded into the Renaissance.
•The crusades brought Europe into closer contact with Asia and Africa
reestablishing interregional trade networks which gave rise to exploration
and the development of global trade networks.
•The crusades helped advance technology in the form of more accurate
maps, magnetic compasses, crossbows, and military techniques.
• They reconnected Europe with Asia and Africa, reestablishing trade
networks which had been lost for nearly five hundred years.
“History’s Most Successful Failure”
The Crusades were a success
because the Europeans were
introduced to the knowledge
of the ancient past that was
being preserved by the
Muslims. They also
introduced new foods and
ideas – rice, sugar, chess,
algebra, chemistry, the color
scarlet, carpet and mirrors.
They were a failure because
they never regained the Holy
Land.
Though famine and disease had always been a lurking presence, the Late
Medieval era saw horrific results of both. The Black Death preceded by famine
and overpopulation, wiped out 25-50% of Europe’s population.
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Coming out of the East, the Black Death
reached the shores of Italy in the spring
of 1348 unleashing a rampage of death
across Europe unprecedented in
recorded history.
It marked the end of the prosperity that
had characterized the high medieval era.
The Church, once so highly respected by
the general populace, suffered reduced
status when some of its priests refused
to minister to the dying during the
plague, and sparked resentment when it
enjoyed enormous profits in bequests
from plague victims.
More and more towns and cities were
wresting control of their own
governments from the hands of the
clergy or nobility that had previously
ruled them. And the reduction in
population triggered economic and
political changes that would never be
reversed.
The Fall of Constantinople…
… the capital of the Byzantine
Empire occurred when the city
was conquered by the
Ottomans in 1453. It marked
the end of the Roman Empire
an imperial state which had
lasted for nearly 1,500 years.
It was also a massive blow to
Christendom.
Several Greek and non-Greek
intellectuals fled the city before
and after the siege, migrating
particularly to Italy. It is
argued that they helped fuel
the Renaissance. Some mark
the end of the Middle Ages by
the fall of the city and empire.[
“A New Hope”
The Black Death, failure of the crusades, and fall of Constantinople in
1453 were a kind of “wake-up call” for Europe. With the breakdown
of the manor systems and the growth of towns, society began to
flourish. The sharing of ideas began a new age of art, science and
learning unlike any before.
This next era is really about …“PEOPLE” and
“HOW THEY WOULD CHANGE THE WORLD”.
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The Renaissance
became visible at
different times in
different places. It was
the first self-conscious
period of European
history, articulated by
the Humanist writer,
Giovanni Boccaccio,
who recognized that a
new world was being
created.
Italy: The Cradle of the Renaissance
The Renaissance developed because of the
unique circumstances of the Italian peninsula
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When you think of the
Italian Renaissance,
chances are you think of
what it gave us:
The extraordinary
sculptures of
Michelangelo.
The incomparable
paintings of Leonardo
da Vinci.
The immortal written
works of Petrarch and
Machiavelli.
NOTABLE LIVES FROM
BETWEEN 1400 AND 1700
INFLUENCE OUR WORLD STILL
TODAY.
SOME NAMES ARE WELL KNOWN
– LEONARDO DA VINCI,
DONATELLO, RAPHAEL, AND
MICHELANGELO. OTHER
FAMOUS PEOPLE FROM THE
RENAISSANCE INCLUDE MARTIN
LUTHER, AND CHRISTOPHER
COLUMBUS. BUT MANY OTHERS
ARE NEW TO MIDDLE SCHOOL
STUDENTS.
What are some other famous people you associate with the
Renaissance and Age of Exploration? Can you list at least 10?
Some men were drawn to the seas out of a curiosity
to discover more about the world.
Famous European explorers
came from England, Portugal,
Spain, Italy and France. The
voyages of discovery
undertaken by these famous
European explorers were
motivated by:
•Wealth - gold, silver and spices
•Increased Power in Europe
•Prestige
•Increasing opportunities for trade
•Spreading the Christian Religion
•Building European Empires
Famous English Explorers
The famous English
explorers were referred to as
pirates and privateers by
their enemies. The most
famous English explorers
embarked on their voyages
of discovery during the
Elizabethan reign of Queen
Elizabeth I.
Famous English explorers
included Cavendish,
Hawkins, Sir Walter Raleigh
and Sir Francis Drake.
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Famous Spanish Explorers
Famous Spanish Explorers
and Conquistadors explored
the Caribbean and South
America. Just a few famous
Spanish explorers conquered
the millions who made up the
nations of the Incas and the
Aztecs. Famous Spanish
explorers included Hernando
Cortes, Francisco Pizarro,
Hernando De Soto, Vasco
Nunez de Balboa, Cabeza de
Vaca and Juan Ponce de Leon.
Famous Portuguese Explorers
The famous Portuguese
explorers led the way
when it came to
exploration. The most
famous Portuguese
explorers included
Ferdinand Magellan,
Vasco da Gama,
Bartholomeu Dias and
Gaspar and Miguel
Corte Real.
Prince Henry The Navigator: 1394 - 1460
Prince Henry of Portugal,
known as Prince Henry the
Navigator, with the help of
mathematicians, astronomers,
cartographers, and other
navigators, sent expeditions to
explore the west coast of
Africa.
These explorations led to trade
for gold and ivory and, soon
after, slaves. Later, Portuguese
sailors discovered the route
around the southern tip of
Africa that would take them to
India entirely by sea.
Johann Gutenberg: c.1398-1468
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Johann Gutenberg invented
the printing press in the
1450's. The first book
printed was a Latin
language Bible. The
invention of the movabletype printing press meant
that Bibles and books could
finally be effectively
produced in large
quantities in a short period
of time. This was essential
to the success of the
Reformation.
Leonardo da Vinci: 1452-1519
Leonardo is generally
considered the perfect
example of the Renaissance
Man. He was an expert at
many different things
including painting,
sculpture, science,
architecture, and anatomy.
He not only was one of the
most celebrated artists of all
time with paintings such as
the Mona Lisa and The Last
Supper, but was also one of
the most prolific inventors in
history.
Niccolò Machiavelli: 1469-1527
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This advisor the Medici
family was from
Florence, Italy. He was a
philosopher, statesman,
and political theorist and
is often referred to as the
“father of modern
political theory”. He is
most famous for “The
Prince”, which describes
how a king could take
and hold power.
Erasmus: 1466-1536
Erasmus was a Dutch
priest and scholar. He
was considered the
greatest humanist of the
north and helped to
spread humanism and
the Renaissance
movement to northern
Europe. He is also
famous for his book
Praise of Folly.
Nicolaus Copernicus: 1473- 1543
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Copernicus was a
Renaissance astronomer
born in Royal Prussia. He
spoke 3 languages
including Latin and
German, and studied in
Italy. He was the first
person to formulate a
comprehensive
heliocentric cosmology
which displaced the Earth
from the center of the
universe.
Michelangelo:1475-1564
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Michelangelo was an
Italian Renaissance
sculptor, painter,
architect, poet, and
engineer who exerted an
unparalleled influence
on the development of
Western Art. He was
considered the greatest
living artist in his
lifetime and one of the
greatest of all time still
today.
Musicians of the Renaissance
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6pBEHBXmKk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wiRpUtVByxU
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Thomas Tallis: c1505 – 1585
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An English composer who flourished as a
church musician during the often stormy
sixteenth century in England. He is
considered among the best of England’s
earliest church composers. His career took
him to London, Waltham Abbey,
Canterbury Cathedral, and finally to court
in 1543, composing and performing for
Henry VIII, Edward VI, Queen Mary, and
Queen Elizabeth. He remained in the
service of the Sovereign for the rest of his
life as organist and composer, avoiding the
religious controversies that raged around
him.
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6RgaPTo4hE
Martin Luther: 1483-1546
Luther was a German
theologian and priest. He
objected to many of the
practices of the Catholic
Church such as paying to
get into heaven and the
authority of the Pope. He
thought the Bible should
be the final authority and
that it should be available
to everyone. Luther's ideas
caused the Reformation
and a new type of
Christianity called
Protestantism.
King Henry VIII: 1491-1547
King Henry the VIII could have
been considered the prototypical
"Renaissance Man" at his prime.
He was tall, good looking, and
confident. He was educated and
intelligent and could speak four
languages. He was also athletic, a
good horseman, a musician,
composer, and a strong fighter.
Henry the VIII is also known for
having six different wives and
for separating the Church of
England from the Roman
Catholic Church.
Paracelsus: 1493-1541
Paracelsus was a Swiss
scientist and botanist who
helped to make many
advances in medicine. He
studied current practices in
medicine and found that
most doctors actually made
patient's conditions worse
rather than healing them. His
studies showed that certain
chemicals and drugs could
help patients to heal and get
better. He also found that the
environment and diet of
person contributed to their
health.
Catherine d’ Medici: 1519-1589
Catherine was a member of the
famed Medici family of Florence. As
an 11 year old girl she was taken
captive and held to try and stop her
family from attacking. She
convinced her captors that she
wanted to become a nun and, as
result, they didn't hurt her. A few
years later she married the son of
the King of France, Henry. Henry
became king of France and
Catherine a powerful queen. After
Henry's death, her sons became
kings of France and Poland and her
daughter queen of Navarre.
William Shakespeare: 1564-1616
William Shakespeare is one
of the greatest poets and
playwrights in the world.
He changed the way plays
were written by creating
new styles of writing. He
had a talent for writing
about the struggles people
face. His stories combine
conflicts with which both
kings and peasants could
identify. His plots mirror the
every day lives of people
and encourage the audience
to choose good over evil.
Galileo Galilei: 1564-1642
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Galileo used instruments to
observe nature and
experiments to understand it.
Like Copernicus, he began
training for a career in
medicine, but later switched
to a subject more to his liking,
mathematics. Galileo accepted
the idea that Earth and the
other planets orbited the sun,
but he was the first able to
prove it based on his
observations with a telescope.
Did You Know????
When Galileo died in
1642, he was still under
house arrest. The
Catholic Church did not
pardon him until 1992.
Sir Isaac Newton: 1642-1727
Sir Isaac Newton was born the
same year Galileo died. He is
clearly the most influential
scientist who ever lived. His
accomplishments in
mathematics, optics, and
physics laid the foundations
for modern science and
revolutionized the world.
“If I have been able to see further, it was
only because I stood on the shoulders of
giants.”
Who’s Who…
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Sir Isaac Newton **
Leonardo da Vinci **
King Henry VIII **
Erasmus
Martin Luther **
Copernicus **
Niccolo Machiavelli
Catherine d’ Medici
Paracelsus **
Galileo **
William Shakespeare **
Michelangelo **
Johann Gutenberg **
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Sir Francis Drake *
Sir Walter Raleigh *
Hernando Cortes *
Prince Henry the Navigator *
Cabeza de Vaca *
Francisco Pizarro *
Rembrandt *
John Locke
John Milton
Elizabeth I
Thomas Tallis
Josquin Des Prez**
PBL: Goal is to convince a television network to buy
your new television show so everyone will profit.
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The television series will be based on Renaissance
scholars, inventors, artists and explorers – and their
contributions during this time period. It will highlight
a new Renaissance figure each week. It is important to
connect their contributions to present day society.
Reflect on how their contributions impact things we
have today.
Choose a Renaissance figure to research
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You will need to create the outline of the show
which should include the background and major
contributions to Renaissance society (ie. Paintings,
sculpture, books, poems, scientific discoveries,
trade/knowledge).
Your episode will need to include what the
contribution was and how it impacted society
then and now.
The end of the episode will include who your
scholars counterpart is today (who they are most
like in today’s society) and how they are alike.
Your end product will include:
1. A
written
proposal outlining
the show idea with
information that
clearly shows the
impact of past
contributions to
present day
society.
2. A
30 to 45 second
“trailer”
advertising your
episode of the
show that will be
shared with the
producer.
During the renaissance many artists concentrated on making their paintings more alive.
Today we continue to use many techniques begun during this time. One technique was
chiaroscuro, (remember The Tale of Despereaux), which was a technique where shades
appeared in the picture and it helped things in paintings such as clothes become more
in-depth and more realistic. Another technique worth mentioning is aerial perspective.
Aerial perspective is when a subject is painted from an angle other than the front. This
causes the painting to look more realistic. Another technique that we still use in modern
art is the linear perspective. The linear perspective if you make a mark in the middle of
your paper and everything depends on it from the sizes. This creates an illusion of
distance. Also in the renaissance art the proportion started becoming more accurate.
List the exchanges of plants, animals, technology,
disease, and culture between the Old and New Worlds
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQPA5oNpfM4&feature=relmfu
Map Of The Triangle Trade
EQ: What were the social and economic impacts of
exploration on the people of each continent?