Cultural Expansion….World History:
October 1
Remember discussing in our Geography intro Paris, London, Naples, Rome, Rotterdam,
Mainz, Wittenberg….what role would their location have played in the REBIRTH
EUROPE’S CITIES AND CULTURE? Trade, variety of job opportunities, food sources,
travel..
Why are cities that are centers of trade more likely to be exposed to cultural ideas?
New cultures come to them, relationships and friendships
HOLD THAT THOUGHT, WE’LL REVISIT THE FACT CITIES LIKE THE SEVEN
ABOVE WERE THE CENTER OF A RENAISSANCE (REBIRTH) IN EUROPE,
WHICH IS AT THE HEART OF THIS UNIT. BUT FIRST, WHAT DID EUROPE
AND THE WORLD NEED TO BE “REBORN” FROM?
MEDIEVAL TIMES AND THE MIDDLE AGES, WHICH WERE DARK TIMES FOR
EUROPE AND THE WORLD..
TWO VIDEOS, ON THE MIDDLE AGES, MEDIEVAL EUROPE, AND THE
RENAISSANCE…
Interact
Info
1) Why was Europe in such a chaotic state?
2) Who stepped in and provided order during this time?
3) Who basically had all the power?
4) What was life like for most people?
5) What role did the Catholic church play in people’s lives?
6) Describe the Crusades…
7) What positive effect did the Crusades bring about?
8) What did the 100 years war and Black Death do to the European
population?
9) What eventually began to happen in the 1400-1500’s? Europe and the
world came out of the “darkness” and into a RENAISSANCE, WHICH
INCLUDED REFORMATIONS (CHANGES) WHICH PRECEDED
CULTURAL EXPANSION THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.
Page 34-35 Timeline1300-1600 a time of important and far reaching changes that led to cultural expansion,
which still affect us today.
1) What year was the Gutenberg bible printed, why might this be an important
event? 1455, marked the first time books could be printed for the masses.
2) What significant event happened a few years before Martin Luther began the
Reformation? Columbus reached America
3) After the Reformation, what happened in England? King Henry started the
Church of England
4) How might a new church in England lead to Catholic Church reforms? Catholic
church reforms were made to try and keep da peeps from leaving.
October 3..Chapter 1, Section 1 will discuss the Renaissance and how this played a role
in “opening up” the world, leading to cultural expansion. To set the stage however, again
let’s review why the world was “in the dark” and needed “opening up”, so to speak.
Middle Ages = a time when most of Europe was coping with disease, war, and a belief
that a few should have everything, and the rest should just suffer on this earth and get
their rewards later.
Please answer the “Examining Issues” questions on page 36, relative to the painting.
Renaissance in Italy- Why did the Renaissance start in Italy??
1) 2) 3)

“Old ideas about people”…….were from the Greeks and Romans..these old ideas
basically promoted the value and beauty of humans and humanity, which
contrasted to the Middle Ages view of humans as somewhat worthless and
meaningless unless rich and powerful.
10/7/13- Storyboard activity for Chapter 1, Section 1.
10/8/13- Finish story board and then….
- Pause and analyze discuss Machiavelli and his influence as an example of a person
whose ideas came out of this cultural expansion environment, and still relate to life today:
To ponder regarding Machiavelli and his ideas:
 For a leader, ruler is it better to be loved or feared?
 Are people naturally good or bad?
 Does the end justify the means? In other words, should a leader do whatever it
takes, to remain, keep power?

What are some examples of Machiavellian people that you can think of?

DON’T MACHIAVELLI’S IDEAS SOMEWHAT CONTRADICT THE
WHOLE THEME OF THE RENAISSANCE????
October 9…
Page 46- The Renaissance expands from Italy north, why/where???
Page 48- What did writers in the north try to do? (Give an example)
Page 49- Shakespeare’s relevance to the spread of culture and ideas?
Page 51- A summary of the legacy of the Renaissance..
Speaking of the legacy of the Renaissance, its impact is still felt today and many of our
most influential people today strive for Renaissance ideals and/or can be compared to
aspects of the Renaissance.
October 9- As a table group, determine/discuss/share the influential people given to you
in this “packet”. IN OTHER WORDS PLEASE WRITE DOWN YOUR INDIVIDUAL
ANSWERS TO 1 and 2, BUT YOU ARE ENCOURAGED TO COME UP WITH THE
ANSWERS TOGETHER, IN “TABLE GROUPS”.
1) Think about the definitions of Renaissance Men, Women (page 39)….
Do any of these meet the definitions here? Why or why not?
2) What about one of the Renaissance’s most influential writers, Machiavelli?
Which people here fit his definition of leadership, and why???
TRY TO COME UP WITH ANSWERS TO 3 AND 4 INDIVIDUALLY, I’LL
DISTRIBUTE “PACKETS OF PEOPLE” ONE FOR EVERY TWO PEEPS.
3) Do any of these fit with Shakespearean themes…i.e. a high view of human nature
contrasted with human flaws?
4) Which one of these best fits with (page 51) the overall legacy of the Renaissance?
Why?
5) Come up with your own “Renaissance Person”…who fits best with the ideals of
the Renaissance and why?????????
Monday, 10/14-13—
Checked Cultural Expansion, “so far”….
Meanwhile…on scratch paper….
Define REFORM
1) Think of something you want to change (REFORM) this could be at school, in a
class, on a team, in your family, etc.
2) What could you write and put in a public place that would convince others to
consider what you think should be changed? Try writing these down in bullet
points…
3) Where would you put this?
4) What effect would these points have on authority figures and those under
authority figures?
The Reformation….
Page 54-55…….What did Martin Luther do that was similar to you, and started the
Reformation???
What did he want to reform?
What did he write to try and bring about reform?
Where did he put these writings?
What effect did this publication have?
Video Clip…”Martin Luther, reluctant reformer”….
Interaction
Info
Ironically, why is ML “reluctant”?
Ironically, in what ways did ML feel he was being a good Christian in
challenging the Catholic church?
What did his challenge lead to?
Do
Think he’d
Be proud Today of
What religion has become?
What strategies did ML use to take on the Catholic Church?
SUMMARY- SO, WHAT DOES THE REFORMATION,
MARTIN LUTHER HAVE TO DO WITH CULTURAL
EXPANSION?
Other points to know re Reformation….
Later, Martin Luther’s reform ideas spread to other parts of Europe.
In England, that country broke from the Catholic Church too, because of
King Henry’s desire to have male heirs and to divorce.
The Catholic Church, in response, began to reform.
As a result, the Reformation brought about changes in religion but also
created a new sense of value placed in speaking one’s mind and trying to
bring about changes in people’s lives.
10/16/13…Stop…Review…some basics on government……Monarchy, Theocracy,
Aristocracy, Democracy
Then, asking all to make sense of Chapter 1 overall, in the context of cultural expansion:
Explain four reasons for each with regard to how and why these movements/time periods
are connected to Cultural Expansion.
Reformation
Renaissance
1. People started to speak out, share ideas
1. Artistic expression became valued
again
10/17/13Chapter 2, Section 1…
Interaction
Info
Ottomans (73)-
Constantinople (74-75)
Suleyman’s reign (76-77)
Summary
S/O to Suleyman, best Ottoman sultan, kind of a
Renaissance man himself #multiskilled
 In what ways does Suleyman influence our lives in the United States today?
1)
2)
3)
Overall, was he a great leader or ruthless, cruel tyrant?
10/18/13
From Chapter 2, Section 1 (Ottomans)
Great leader evidence =
Cruel tyrant evidence =
Left side of room = DEFENDING SULEYMAN (BASICALLY SAYING HE’S A
GREAT LEADER)
Right side of room = PROSECUTING SULEYMAN AS A CRUEL TYRANT
PLEASE WRITE ONE SENTENCE THAT CAPTURES WHY YOU ARE ON THE
SIDE YOU’RE ON.
AND…….THINK AS A GROUP WHAT YOU COULD ASK SULEYMAN TO
PROVE YOUR POSITION.
AND….WHAT COULD YOU DO TO COUNTERACT THE ANTICIPATED OTHER
SIDE’S ARGUMENT.
The people think of wealth and power as the greatest fate,
But in this world a spell of health is the best state.
What men call sovereignty is a worldly strife and constant war;
Worship of God is the highest throne, the happiest of all estates
Read the poem, and what’s the message???
The above is from one of Suleyman’s own poems…do his words more compare or
contrast with your opinion of the man? Why?
10/21/13 , after “wrapping up” Suleyman..Yet another empire was “culturally expanding”

Read Chapter 2, Sections 2 and 3 define the following terms, answer the
following questions in writing….
1) Page 78…Define cultural blending and what are four causes of it?
Two or more cultures come into contact with one another and become “mixed”.
Migration, pursuing religious freedom, trade, and conquest.
2) Page 79-80…How did the Safavid Empire and Ottoman Empire relate one another?
3) Pages 80-81…What were some of the accomplishments of the Safavid Empire?
4) Page 83-84, Akbar, ruler of Mughal Empire in India 1556 to 1605, what was he known
for as a military conqueror, liberal ruler, flowerer of culture, promoter of art and
literature, and devotee to architecture?
5) Page 85- despite impressive monuments like the Taj Mahl, why were people suffering
under Shah Jahan?
6) Page 87- How did the Mughal Empire decline and decay?
10/22 and 23…
Connect to today………..the region once ruled by the Mughal empire still features some
deep social divisions, relative inequality, a lack of human rights, etc.
Malala (young girl shot by the Taliban for speaking out for the right of women to be
educated) story/speech…A great example of modern culturally blending, reformers, and
news from the region(s) we are studying right now.
1) What is Malala (and her family) fighting for?
2) How do they connect to other reformers?
3) What would Suleyman, Akbar say about her??
Excerpts of her UN speech on 10/23, 10/22 the NY Times documentary on her life and
family’s struggle.
10/23-10/24…Culture expands via European trade
Page 95…why did European trade expand? “For God, Glory, and Gold”
How was European trade able to happen? Page 97..advancements in sailing technology..
Look at map on page 100



Which European countries established trade in the Indian Ocean “area”?
What impact do you guess that Europeans had on the people of this region?
What impact did this trade have on cities back in Europe?
Take a guess, where might European trading powers try to go next?
If you guessed Japan and China…you were correct
 Read Chapter 3, Section 2 and answer “main ideas” questions on page 107
How did Beijing become China’s capital?. Paranoia about power and a struggle for
power, desire to consolidate power created the elaborate capital of Beijing
Why did China lose interest in contacts abroad in 1433? The Chinese decided to stop
wasting money on large expeditions and wanted to defend their own land from attack
What did Christian missionaries bring to China? Science and technology (like the clock),
education, and new ideas about society.
Read Chapter 3, Section 3 and answer “How and why did attempts to open up Japan
fail”??
That would be “it” for this unit, with the exception of practicing document based
responses, which we’ll do in class Thursday, Friday, and some next week.
All of this formative/process work should be complete. But, I’ll give you a chance to
catch up, put it all together, etc as it’s “checkable” any time Friday 10/25 or Monday
10/28.
THE TEST FOR THIS UNIT IS TUESDAY, 10/29! YOU REALLY SHOULD BE
STUDYING FOR THIS TEST BEGINNING NOW!
“Practice” working with primary sources…
The below was from Aeneas Silvius, noted figure from the Renaissance. How do his words
support or not support your overall opinion of what the Renaissance meant to history?
Nothing can help you in guiding your life more than the study of literature. . . . Yet it is my
understanding that you have thrown off your studies like some yoke which obliges me to try to
induce you to take them up again. . . . We ought to study literature because it offers us models of
behavior after which we can pattern out lives; knowing these will be helpful. And one must know
literature deeply, not superficially, if real progress is to be made. Contemporary rulers are happy
with a smattering of knowledge and leave detailed study to philosophers and jurisconsultants, just
as if it were less important for them to know the principles of a good life. I entreat you not to fall
into this pattern of thinking which will block your developing into a good man and a famous ruler
Goals = clear opinion, mention text specifically, explain how the text relates to opinion.
(the primary sources on the test will be different than the one above, but what one is
supposed to “do” with the primary sources will hopefully be understood)