So Was There a Renaissance? Final Answer ... Kinda

In creating our infographics, the class was challenged to take a side on the question - Was the Renaissance a thing? And the final answer that the class came to after presenting their findings on art, social order, family/work life, and politics was - kinda.

No argument that there was a change in art (perspective), literature (Humanism, printing press), and in some ways politics (Machiavelli, 'New Monarchs'). But for the vast majority of people living during the time period known as the Renaissance, life didn't change all that much.

Arguments for why the Renaissance wasn't a thing for the
 majority of people in Italy, and the rest of Europe. 

One group's infogrpahic made the argument that for 95% of the population, very little changed. Unless you had money to 'buy' new titles in politics or to take advantage of the arts, life didn't change - you were still worried daily about getting food to feed your family, and the Church played a dominate role in your life.

As a class we stopped short of saying the Renaissance wasn't a thing, because everybody agreed things changed, just not for the majority of the population (that is until a monk, influenced by Humanism and Theology starts writing but we haven't covered that yet).












By the way - the plan is to have students write these wrap ups on projects/discussions in the future.

Back to the Very Beginning: The Renaissance

Infographs portray information in a visual way - rather than using paragraphs to display information, an Infograph will use pictures/charts/graphs to show the information visually. We will look at a couple of infograph examples to help guide you.

Some helpful tips …

1. Keep your graphics simple
2. Graphics should relate to the topic
3. Use the shape of your infograph to help tell the overall topic
4. Some words are important - but main idea should be grasped through the visuals used
5. Be creative!

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For this infograph you will be comparing the Late Middle Ages to the Renaissance, trying to answer/defend/refute the question

- Was there even a Renaissance? Was it a thing?

To gather background knowledge you will need to read the Renaissance chapter in your book, use the Late Middle Ages chapter, read the provided primary documents, and watch the provided videos (thanks Tom Richey and John Green!)

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On your Infograph you will be comparing the following topics/concepts between the Late Middle Ages and the Renaissance …

• Social Order
• Family/Work Life
• Art
• Politics

Videos

Making the Case: Who's To Blame For WWI

We now have a divided Europe, a 'powder keg waiting to explode'. After the Conference of Berlin, and even before, the major political powers of Europe were taking sides, forming alliances, and readying for the unavoidable - war.
What was thought to be a quick war, or hoped to contain to a regional skirmish, quickly developed into full blown war.
In class we'll talk some of the specifics as to what went on during WWI, and even some of the events that led to WWI, and the treaty that ended it. Here's your challenge ...

Within groups of 3 to 4, you will be assigned a country. Your job is to create a parody/satire mini-movie/documentary (call it a mockumentary) on who is really to blame for the start of WWI. Keep in mind a few things ...
1. You will not take blame for starting the war, that would have devastating costs at the Treaty of Versailles.
2. Remember your allies.
3. Remember your rivals (both current and historic).
4. Be sensitive to groups of people and or particular people. Yes we are using satire, but we are not being insensitive.
5. Make references to actual events - sinking of ships, alliances, political flip-flops, assassinations and the like. You are making a case as to why it's not your fault war started, but it is somebody's fault - who and why?

Our Characters (or shall we call them suspects) ...
- Great Britain
- France
- Russia
- Germany
- Austria-Hungry and Serbia
- Italy

You will turn-in or have an approved script BEFORE you begin filming!
Script is due on Tuesday (2/17) by the end of class. Your video, completely edited and ready to watch, is due at the beginning of class on Monday (2/23). We will discuss a few things in class during the week, so make a plan. You will also have a Ch. 25 Reading Quiz on Wednesday (2/18) - you will e permitted to use hand-written notes, not the reading packet itself.

Let's Meet in Berlin

European supremacy can be seen in lots of ways during the 19th and early 20th centuries, but one of the most stark and clear examples is the carving up of an entire continent to settle European conflicts. In 1884-1885, European powers met in Berlin at what became known as the Berlin Conference, or the Congo Conference. We will re-create this conference, taking on the roles of the major European powers present at this meeting.

During the conference each committee will try to persuade the other conference attendees to grant and certify their claims to territory within the continent of Africa. This will be accomplished in a couple of ways - in-class speeches (which should include visuals/maps) and an on-line social media campaign (using Twitter/Instagram).
The goal of the conference is two fold -
1. Create a map of Africa that all members agree to
2. Set rules for claiming new territory and settling future land/resource disputes.

Each committee will be made up of at least 2 members, taking on the following roles ...
1. Speaker
2. Ambassador
and will share the role of Head of PR
(Link to specific details)

Each committee will give an opening argument to their claims of land and resources within Africa. We will then proceed to debate and discuss land disputes that arise.

Members of the committee that will be present are as follows ...
Germany
Belgium
Great Britain
France
Italy
Portugal

Each committee will need to be sure they achieve the goals of their country and allies, while also maintaining the balance of power in continental Europe.

The conference will start on Monday Feb 9 and end on Tuesday Feb 10. By the end of the conference.
Continue to check back here for details and needed background information on the Conference of Berlin and the events that led to its necessity.

Unification Overload

Europe saw the formation of two nation-states that would become major players in the coming brinkmanship and World Wars. Once Prussia unites the German provinces, the balance of power in continental Europe is once again called into question, and paranoia once again sets in. Alliances are quickly formed - some secret, some not so secret. And we are just priming the pump for a spark to set-off a powder keg.

So how does this happen? Look at how Italy and Germany unite. Use your textbook and the links below to fill-in your charts comparing the different players, maps, and speeches used to bring two different countries united during the same time period.


Otto Von Bismark 
Count Camillo Cavor

OPTIC
Italian Unification Map
German Unification Map - I and II

SOAPPS
Garibaldi
Bismark

The French Revolution: The Rise of Napoleon

So out of the chaos of the French Revolution, arises a great new power whole will stand tall and tower over Europe (or at least a large part of it). His name is Napoleon. And contrary to popular belief, he wasn't short (at least not for his era of history).

You will continue your quest to create the ultimate Crash Course video over the French Revolution. In Part I, you covered the causes of the Revolution up through the Reign of Terror. Now it's time to make sense of the chaos, turn France from a Republic to an Empire and back.
You may work with the same groups as Part I, or you may elect to change groups. Just remember there are 3 groups, 2 groups of 5 and 1 group of 4.

Here are the terms, people, and events to work into your script (due by Thur) and video (due next Monday) ...
- Alexander I
- Berlin Decrees
- Bourbons
- Concordat of 1801
- Congress of Vienna
- Continental System
- Directory
- Emigres
- Grand Duchy of Warsaw
- Holy Alliance
- Hundred Days
- Invasion of Russia
- Junkers
- Liberalism
- Metternich
- Milan Decree 1807
- Napoleon Bonaparte
- Napoleonic Code
- Nationalism
- Quadruple Alliance
- Romanticism
- Treaty of Tilsit
- Wars of Liberation
- Waterloo

French Revolution: A Two Part Adventure

Here is the breakdown for Part I, Part II information will come post-Thanksgiving Break ...

For the French Revolution we will create two separate video in the style of John Green's Crash Course Video's ... below are a few examples for you to gain influence from.




For your video project, the video and script need to cover the following events, people, and terms ...

• Louis XV
• Parlement
• Three Estates: First Estate, Second Estate, Third Estate
• Bourgeoisie
• Assembly of Notables
• Estates General May 1789
• National Assembly 1789-1791
• Tennis Court Oath
• Storming of Bastille
• Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen
• The Civil Constitution of the Clergy
• Legislative Assembly 1791-1792
• Declaration of Pillnitz
• Paris Commune
• September Massacres
• The National Convention 1792-1795
• The Mountain
• Girondins
• Sans-Culottes
• Committee of Public Safety
• Maximilien Robespierre
• Reign of Terror
• Thermidorian Reaction
• The Directory

Due Dates

Part 1 Script: Due Tue Nov. 18

Part 1 Video: Due Fri Nov. 21

Tom Richey Lecture Videos on the French Revolution