Meeting of The Global Minds

1. Meeting of The Global Minds Renaissance 1300AD-1500AD

2. Overview Your assignment will be to research a Renaissance topic from the list in the Essential Questions and the Task section, and to develop a project sharing your finding about this time period in the European history.     

3. Introduction • The word "Renaissance" is French for "rebirth".  It is a period of revival of the interest in the values and arts of Greece and Rome during the early 14th century to the late 16th century. This time span and activities during that span led to the golden age of cultural blending and innovation. Because of the Renaissance Western European life was forever changed.  • Importance of the religious view that was prevalent during previous periods in history changed to a much more worldly outlook of world views during the Renaissance. The intellects who came out of the Renaissance had a growing belief in individual human spirit and abilities. "Humanism" is that focus on the worth of individuals.

4. . Questions:  As you work on your chosen project, be sure to think about the following questions and make the answers evident in your work and your presentation: • What was the Renaissance all about? • How did the development of the printing press affect civilization in general, and the lives of people specifically? • How were the lives of people living during the Renaissance similar to our lives today? How were their lives different? • What impact did European domination have on various regions and the world? • How did change that took place in science, the arts, politics, religion, and education accelerate global political and economic expansion? • How did politics, economics, geographic and social implications affect cultural expansion during this period? • How are societies altered by the change from rural to urban society? • What effect did the new political and economic ideas have? • What were some of the advances in technology, education, literature and the arts? • How did religion change during this period?  What effect has this had on world religion as we know it today?

5. Tasks • Create a Media Scrapbook which includes pictures, representation of art, literature, inventions, or any other artifacts that represent the Renaissance. There must be 5 pages or slides with 10-15 items and each must be clearly labeled and identified in detail. This could be done in the form of a PowerPoint presentation or simply as a word document.  The presentation, whether word document or PowerPoint, must be accompanied by the items were developed and used, who used them, and a background on the history and origin of each item. Lay out your exhibit so that you are showcasing this inventive as artistic time in European history. • Create a Digital Movie which includes images and, representation of art, literature, inventions, or any other artifacts that represent the Renaissance. The presentation must be accompanied by the items that were developed and used, who used them, and a background on the history and origin of each item. Lay out your exhibit so that you are showcasing this inventive and artistic time in European history. • Create a Trifold Board presentation which includes pictures, representation of art, literature, inventions, or any other artifacts that represent the Renaissance. The presentation must be accompanied by the items that were developed and used, who used them, and a background on the history and origin of each item. Lay out your exhibit so that you are showcasing this inventive as artistic time in European history.

6. Tasks Continued • Make a brochure which includes pictures, representation of art, literature, inventions, or any other artifacts that represent the Renaissance. The presentation must be accompanied by the items that were developed and used, who used them, and a background on the history and origin of each item. Lay out your exhibit so that you are showcasing this inventive as artistic time in European history. This will certainly require more writing than the other choices. • Assume the role of a woman living during the Renaissance.  Write a 20-day diary depicting your life during this era.  Cite daily events in your life as well as how changes around you affect your life specifically and in general.  (This project can be one diary collaborated on by both members of the team).  The diary must be in the form of an original book with front and back covers.  Dates must appear at the beginning of each diary entry. (There are books in the library about women in the Renaissance) • Assume the role of a leader in the Catholic Church who is corresponding with another leader in the Church.  Discuss events that are affecting changes in the Church from the standpoint of religion itself and from the political aspects of the Church.  Your partner must respond to your letters.  Make sure that anything you put in the letters is based on facts you can back up. There must be a minimum of 10 letters, 5 from each person.

7. Process • Day One, Two, Three:  GATHERING INFORMATION • Take notes on your research, always looking for answers to the questions you must answer.  Take note of the impact being made by the events in the Renaissance. Be sure to get copies of art, diagrams, books, summaries of ideas, etc. that reflect the time period.  I will post some more resources on the Learners’ Network Page and it will be your responsibility to print out that information and bring it to class if you need more resources. • Day Four:  PROJECT PLANNING (Use concept mapping to assist you here)Design a project presentation that specifically: • explains the major contributions of this subject area and answers the essential questions • describes the impact that the subject had on the world

8. Process Continued • Day Five & Six:  ORGANIZING (Use concept mapping here as well) •  Put all of your notes into a logical sequence to help develop your project ideas •      Gather pictures, graphics, artifacts or whatever items you will include in your project • Plan how your project will take shape and be presented • Day Seven:  FINALIZING & WRITING Create your final project using all collected data and items •   Decide and plan for costumes, props and presentation techniques you   will use on the day of the exhibition.       • Day Eight & Nine:  Culminating Experience •     You will present your final project for the class during regular class time. •   Final evaluations, class evaluations and self-evaluations will be done at this time

9. http://histclo.com/chron/me/islam/is-fr.html • Flowering of Learning • At a time that Christian Europe was mired in dogmatic faith and the learning of the classical era had largely disappeared, there was a flowering of a learning and culture in Islam. Islamic scholars made great advances in mathematics, astronomy, geography, architecture, and other disciplines. To a large extent these advances were based on translations of classical Greek and Roman texts. The Abbasid Caliphate oversaw a flowering of learning that was unrivaled in the world at the time. Bagdad and other major Islamic cities were important centers of learning. Harun al-Rashid (786--) is perhaps the best known of the Abbasid caliphs. This is largely because of the fictional role given him in The Thousand and One Nights. His reign and that of his immediate successors constitute the Golden Age of Islam. This Golden Age produced the first important work in science since the decline of the Classical world. Islamic scholars revived classical works, but also did important work in mathematics, astronomy, medicine, and chemistry. There were many practical technological advances. Islamic scholars not only collected and corrected existing astronomical data, but they constructed the world's first observatory. It was Abbasid scholars that developed the astrolabe, an indispensible scientific instrument. Islamic scholars were renowned for advances in medicine. They experimented with diet, drugs, surgery, and anatomy. They made many important discoveries in chemistry. Abbasid scholars also worked on agriculture. They worked on water management (wells, canals, and waterwheels), livestock breeding. They promoted cotton cultivation, an almost unknown fabric in Europe. They also began making paper which they learned from the Chinese. There were also important literaary works, including biography, history, and linguistics. The Destruction of Philosophy was perhaps the most significant Islamic text after the Koran. It was followed by IbnRushd'sDestructing of the Destruction which questioned some of Al-Ghazali's dogmatism

10. Resources • http://www.yesnet.yk.ca/schools/projects/renaissance/renaissancewomen.html • Please find the documents on the desktop of your lap-top.