w. 37

Friday, 16 September
 

ENGLISH:

Christian holy book =  (the) Bible (always capitalized). 

bible = any authoritative book (not capitalized). Example: Zlatan's autobiography is my bible for how to succeed in life.

In the lecture part of the class, we reviewed the build-up to the Crusades and we discussed the outcomes written below under Monday.

I went on to discuss how the Crusades helped lead to the Renaissance. The Renaissance represents a number of significant changes that develop in Europe post-Crusades, and these changes can be seen to be in

-       trade and other areas of economics and finance,

-       literature

-       philosophy

-       education

-       art and architecture

-       and basically everything

The expansion of trade, and the ensuing financial changes that come about, was partly the outcome of movement of people and goods back and forth to the areas of the Crusades. But there was also the need for equipment and goods (from boats, to clothing, to food, to weapons, and so much more) for the Crusaders, which spawned and expanded many an industry within Europe.

As a result, cities grew up in places such as Rome, Venice, Genoa, and later also in northern cities. This wealth and trade in Italy helps explain why the Renaissance starts in Italy.

As I noted in class, the most important issue at the heart of all these other changes is a new worldview that comes about. During the Middle Ages, the Church and religious teachings/texts are the source of most intellectual pursuit. Questions are all sorts (astronomy, philosophy, history, biology, and, of course, theology) are answered through these religious teachings and texts. And as a result, the view of man  and his place in the world during the Middle Ages is one that essentially says

-       man is sinful

-       the earthly world is something to be suffered through

-       human life lacks significant value except in religious terms

-       the afterlife is the only true worthwhile aspiration

During the Renaissance, this worldview changes, in part because new sources of knowledge are now being used alongside the religious texts. Writings from Ancient Greece and Rome — from philosophers, historians, dramatists, artists, scientists — are also being used as sources of information. Christian ideas are still important, but they are not the only source of information.

As a result, a new worldview develops, one where man and the earthly life are seen through different eyes. So now

-       man may still be sinful, but he (and she) is capable of accomplishing or achieving things here on earth (because, after all, man is God’s creation)

-       if all things come from God, then using various forms of knowledge or using human skills can be understood as a way of celebrating God

As a result of this new worldview, humans start becoming gradually more individualistic. During the Renaissance they are no where as individualistic and egocentric as we are today, but take this example: we know the names of hardly any individual artists and architects from the Middle Ages — because individual honor and distinction was not important. (And there is a lot of medieval art and architecture.) Only glorifying God was important. But once we get to the Renaissance, we now know the names of hundreds of artists and architects. You know the names of at least some of them: Donatello, Leonardo, Raphael, and Michelangelo.

This difference in how man was viewed comes through in the art of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. We see it in the sort of stories or narratives told through art. But even when the exact same subject is portrayed, we see a very different sort of style.

Here's a medieval portrayal of David and Goliath:

Here's an early Renaissance version by Donatello:

And here's Michelangelo's version, from the High Renaissance:

We'll discuss how these images betray a different worldview. In brief, we can say that if life on this earth is not important, then depicting humans in art in a believable manner is not so important. And if human life and human accomplishment is seen as important, then depicting the human body believably becomes more important.

On Monday, we’re going to continue with the Renaissance and than move on to the Reformation (Martin Luther), and the Scientific Revolution.

We’ll focus, in part, on the role of the printing press for these new developments.

If we have time, we’ll also talk a little about the difference in organization and administration between the Middle Ages and post-1500. This is a little confusing, so you can look in your book in chapter 13, section 2, esp. p. 361.

During the Middle Ages, as I noted before, the central organization of the Roman Empire broke apart, and in its place, most Europeans lived on manors (herrgård) and did not ever travel far from their farm. Those who worked the land were peasants (free laborers) and serfs (laborers bound to the land). Serfs weren’t slaves, but at the same time they could not freely leave and go where they wanted. (Sweden has a form of serf called träl.)

Most financial transactions on manors were carried out through the exchange of goods. Very little needed to be bought from outside the manor

The political organization of the Middle Ages was known as feudalism. I’ll draw this out on the board in class, but one of the things important to understand is that it is a system that does not lend itself to a very large and efficient organization. It can work fine for cooperation among a limited number of people. But it won’t work well for a large kingdom or empire. A large and efficient kingdom (or nation) requires a central authority, and rules that are passed down from the top and are applied to and followed by all.  

Monday, 12 September

ENGLISH: God vs. god

I have put up a pdf file on Vklass with slides connected to Monday's lesson. "Middle Ages, w. 37:

Here are some key things to take away from Monday’s lesson:

Throughout the early Middle Ages, Christianity spread throughout Europe (with the exception of Spain, which was Muslim up until the 15^th century (actually, it was mostly Christian already by the 13^th century)).

The Catholic Church had a clear hierarchy (see the pyramid I did in class and that is also in the slides from Monday), which allowed for the Church to have a uniform message; it also allowed for those higher up in the organization to wield power over those lower in the organization.

The Crusades (a variety of battles between European Christian knights against Arab and Turkish Muslims in the Middle East from 1096 to around 1300) are most significant not because of the military aims but because of other outcomes: The Crusades can be understood to have contributed to

-       greater trade within Europe and outside of Europe (and this increase in trade helps develop new wealth in Europe, particularly in centers in Italy to begin with)

-       a re-introduction and interest in areas of study, including math, science, history, language, art, architecture

-       an interest in further contact with lands outside of Europe

-       greater competition between European kingdoms for power and wealth

Thus, there are economic, political, intellectual, social issues connected with the Crusades that have long-term effects on the world.

*****

Where this will lead us:

Throughout the Middle Ages, the primary source of knowledge and reasoning was the Church and its texts. Thus, the Bible as well as writings by key Christian thinkers, such as St. Augustine and Thomas of Aquinas, are used to try and understand all key questions relating to the world.

After the Crusades and the renewed contact with material from Ancient Greece and Rome, Europe begins to slowly seek out non-theological sources of information for answering questions about the world. This new way of seeing the world (also known as a worldview) allows for new schools of thinking, new philosophies, and scientific experimentation.

***

Regarding the research you're doing on your topic:

Look for infomration that is relevant to the development of your topic up to this point. Try to find specific information -- not just interpretation or opinion. What are developments that have led to current issues connected to your topic?

It is quite okay if you are a little uncertain here. It is important, though, that you ask questions regularly. If I don't get to you during class, write me. I promise I'll answer quickly. Trust me that this process of thinking and talking with me is an important part of the learning process.

*****

"Gladiator" opening battle scene:

New words coming up week 37! (chapter 13)

Middle Ages (note caps)
feudalism, feudal
noble, nobility
lord
vassal
knight
peasant
serf
fief
manor, manorial

Catholic Church, Catholicism
Christianity
Crusades

pope
archbishop
bishop
archdiocese
diocese
clergy
priest