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P07_HUS The American Imperium (1939 – 1970)

Posted by Mr.V on 19 April 2018
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P07_The American Imperium 

The activity will cover from ~1939 (Great Depression Era) to 1970 (Cold War Era). Of course, there may be a few exceptions that reach to an earlier or later date.

WWII may be the single-most impactful event in the study of the era that follows. It could be said that the rise of the United States as a World Power, then, a Super Power can only be adequately explained by the events before and immediately after WWII. The development of this “American Imperium” is not exclusively a military matter and we will not be limited to it. In this project we will attempt to dissect the era from 1939 – 1970 by researching the topics listed below, in the fashion of previous projects.

This era in our nation’s history is largely relegated to three branches of our United States History Research Primer. These branches are: The Great Depression, WWII, and The American Imperium.

Phase I

1. Please open the P07_The American Imperium mindmap prepared for you by Mr.V.

2. The mindmap contains branches that provide guidance for the completion of the research project. One branch identifies the general topic areas to focus our research investigations. The list of topic areas appears below.

01 WWII: The Combatants
02 WWII: History-Shaking Events
03 US Homefront: Japanese-American Internment
04 US Homefront: The Media
05 The Cold War
06 US Postwar Economic Boom

3. Organize your groups.

A. Choose a group leader. That group leader will be given a score reflecting their ability to successfully guide the group to a successful completion of the project. Group leader positions are on a project-by-project basis with everyone serving in that role at least once.

B. Choose a speaker. That speaker will be given a score reflecting their speaking performance during the presentation. Speaker positions are on a project-by-project basis with everyone serving in that role at least once.

C. Setup a communication system so that group members can communicate outside of classroom.

D. Choose how your group will collect, organize, and keep track of data collection by group members. If you decide to use a mindmap, you must share the map with Mr.V (full access). If you decide to use Google, you must create a ‘Team Drive’ and share that with Mr.V (full access). This segment of the project is not normally evaluated since it is a practical application of skills previously taught and practiced. However, under certain conditions, it may impact the group’s grade when a member’s contributions must be assessed for other reasons: Attendance/ tardiness issues, erroneous content presented as facts, etc. 

Phase II

1. Begin collecting sources that may be of use in the researching of your assigned topic area. The sources, as before, are to come from the US History Research Primer and any additional source you verify with Mr.V. The History Research Primer: Sources and Guidance is also recommended for use.

2. Avoid the temptation to begin constructing the presentation. You are expected to conduct this phase of your research in-class to permit you the opportunity to ask Mr.V questions when you encounter a difficulty. The construction of the presentation file is primarily an administrative task that can, and should, be done out-of-class. You will have no more than 5 class periods to complete this and the next phase. Any additional time will have to be out-of-class.

Phase III

1. Begin the analysis of your accumulated source documents.

2. The gathering of data has to come to an end or you run the risk of never finishing. The analysis phase requires that you read, listen to (audio source), or view (video source) the content you’ve amassed. Keep the relevant materials and discard what proves to be unhelpful materials.

As you do this, your computer monitor should be split into two windows that allow you to analyze your source and take notes on that source. The notes you create should be available for members of your group to see and comment on in Mindmeister/ Google Drive. It’s important that ‘your’ notes bear ‘your’ name (Mr.V needs to be able to trace the notes to its creator).

You are expected to conduct this phase of your research in-class to permit you the opportunity to ask Mr.V questions when you encounter a difficulty. You will have no more than 5 class periods to complete this and the previous phase. Any additional time will have to be out-of-class.

Phase IV

1. Mr.V will have distributed to all group leaders, by now, a rubric outlining how the project will be evaluated. Use that rubric, and the project mindmap to guide your analysis of the sources.

2. Construct and submit the presentation file in accordance with the guidance provided by Mr.V.

3. Mr.V will allow you one opportunity to edit the presentation file after viewing it on the large screen. Submit a new file before 7PM on the date posted on the course calendar.

Consider the following as you prepare the presentation:

Be sure to…
-Don’t ignore the feedback received from previous presentations. Repeating an error or omission is worse than committing it the first time.

-Control the balance between ‘text’ and imagery.

-Did you provide content your research was intended to reveal? Was it delivered in a manner that the audience can understand?

-Consider the audience: How close will they be to your presentation (projection)? How long will the slide be visible for them to look at and assimilate it’s data?

-Time limit for the presentation.

–Sources properly credited/ cited.

 

The Results of P07_The American Imperium

I will make accessible the presentations created by all the research groups within our US History course. Take advantage of the hard work your peers put into the research that supports their presentation.

Below each presentation link is an edited compilation of questions Mr.V asked presenters after they have spoken.

To be updated…

01. WWII: The Combatants

Q.

02. WWII: History-Shaking Events

Q.

03. US Homefront: Japanese Internment

Q.

04. US Homefront: The Media

Q. 

05. The Cold War

Q.

06. US Postwar Economic Boom

Q.

Pu03e_The Crescent and the Cross: The 1st Crusade

Posted by Mr.V on 26 March 2018
Posted in: Activity, Published, World History II. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . 1 Comment
Pu03e_The Crescent and the Cross: The 1st Crusade

The 1st Crusade

Across

1. A question #11 answer. This was the first Crusader Principality to be deceiptfully acquired. A crusader became king.
4. A question #6 answer. There are two words you must insert here. The first word is the term the Catholic Church uses to identify the action a wrong-doer must take to achieve forgiveness. The second word is the term used by members of the three monotheistic faiths to identify the category of actions classified as ‘Wrongs’. These were important terms used in Pope Urban’s speech. The speech did little to clear common misunderstandings by followers of the Christian faith. (2 words total)
7. A question #2 answer.
9. A question #10 answer. They used long-range… (2 words)
10. A question #3 answer. Pope issues order to send, as well as establish goals of these.
11. A question #10 answer. They fought on…
15. A question #3 answer. Pope wishes this ruler to accept papal leadership. (2 words)
16. A question #1 answer.
18. A question #3 answer. Pope calls for the formation of this.
19. A question #4 answer. May reunite the followers of this institution with The Church. (3 words)

Down

2. A question #4 answer. Sets a precedent for Church authority in certains areas of this segment of society.
3. A question #7 answer. A targetted group ‘other’ than that listed in the Clermont speech.
5. A question #11 answer. This Crusader Principality had a significant portion of it’s population slaughtered- including Christians. A crusader became king.
6. A question #11 answer. At Ma’arat al-Numan, crusaders resorted to this most offensive act.
8. A question #10 answer. Their horses were smaller and…
11. A question #6 answer. Automatic acceptance into this realm.
12. A question #4 answer. Rid Europe of these rowdy persons.
13. Question #1 answer.
14. A question #5 answer. Regain control of the land that this figure once resided in.
17. A question #8 answer. Crusaders often sold this most valuable feudal asset.

P06_HUS The Roaring 20s and Great Depression

Posted by Mr.V on 22 March 2018
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P06_The Roaring Twenties and Great Depression 

The activity will cover from ~1920 (End of the Progressive Era and advent of the ‘Roaring Twenties) to 1945 (the end of wartime, WWII, economic expansion). Of course, there may be a few exceptions that reach to an earlier or later date.

The post-war (WWI) economic expansion has some connection the Gilded Age pro-business policies of the Federal government. However, the start and end of WWI did impact the economy with respect to capacity and products being produced. The wealth of Gilded Age elites will be, generally, significantly washed away by the storm of the Great Depression.

Social and government , under the stress of two world wars and a roller coaster economy can’t remain untouched. If one looks closely, there are stark examples of a multi-tiered transition. The society/ government from pre-WWI, through post-WWI, Great Depression, and WWII eras is changing under the stress while exerting a force of change of its own. What emerges from 1945 is a United States that even our youth, today, can see a lineage to.

This era in our nation’s history is not selectively isolated in our United States History Research Primer. Instead, students are required to expand the reach of their research to ‘Eras’ that precede, proceed, or overlap the years from 1920 through 1945.

Phase I

1. Please open the P06_The Roaring 20s and the Great Depression mindmap prepared for you by Mr.V.

2. The mindmap contains branches that provide guidance for the completion of the research project. One branch identifies the general topic areas to focus our research investigations. The list of topic areas appears below.

01 The FBI and the Red Scare (1st Incarnation)
02 Hollywood’s View of the World 
03 Rise of the KKK (2nd/ 3rd Incarnation)
04 Consumerism and Advertising
05 Gender Norms
06 The Harlem Renaissance

3. Organize your groups.

A. Choose a group leader. That group leader will be given a score reflecting their ability to successfully guide the group to a successful completion of the project. Group leader positions are on a project-by-project basis with everyone serving in that role at least once.

B. Choose a speaker. That speaker will be given a score reflecting their speaking performance during the presentation. Speaker positions are on a project-by-project basis with everyone serving in that role at least once.

C. Setup a communication system so that group members can communicate outside of classroom.

D. Choose how your group will collect, organize, and keep track of data collection by group members. If you decide to use a mindmap, you must share the map with Mr.V (full access). If you decide to use Google, you must create a ‘Team Drive’ and share that with Mr.V (full access). This segment of the project is not normally evaluated since it is a practical application of skills previously taught and practiced. However, under certain conditions, it may impact the group’s grade when a member’s contributions must be assessed for other reasons: Attendance/ tardiness issues, erroneous content presented as facts, etc. 

Phase II

1. Begin collecting sources that may be of use in the researching of your assigned topic area. The sources, as before, are to come from the US History Research Primer and any additional source you verify with Mr.V. The History Research Primer: Sources and Guidance is also recommended for use.

2. Avoid the temptation to begin constructing the presentation. You are expected to conduct this phase of your research in-class to permit you the opportunity to ask Mr.V questions when you encounter a difficulty. The construction of the presentation file is primarily an administrative task that can, and should, be done out-of-class. You will have no more than 5 class periods to complete this and the next phase. Any additional time will have to be out-of-class.

Phase III

1. Begin the analysis of your accumulated source documents.

2. The gathering of data has to come to an end or you run the risk of never finishing. The analysis phase requires that you read, listen to (audio source), or view (video source) the content you’ve amassed. Keep the relevant materials and discard what proves to be unhelpful materials.

As you do this, your computer monitor should be split into two windows that allow you to analyze your source and take notes on that source. The notes you create should be available for members of your group to see and comment on in Mindmeister/ Google Drive. It’s important that ‘your’ notes bear ‘your’ name (Mr.V needs to be able to trace the notes to its creator).

You are expected to conduct this phase of your research in-class to permit you the opportunity to ask Mr.V questions when you encounter a difficulty. You will have no more than 5 class periods to complete this and the previous phase. Any additional time will have to be out-of-class.

Phase IV

1. Mr.V will have distributed to all group leaders, by now, a rubric outlining how the project will be evaluated. Use that rubric, and the P06_Roaring 20s and Great Depression project mindmap to guide your analysis of the sources.

2. Construct and submit the presentation file in accordance with the guidance provided by Mr.V.

3. Mr.V will allow you one opportunity to edit the presentation file after viewing it on the large screen. Submit a new file before 7PM on the date posted on the course calendar.

Consider the following as you prepare the presentation:

Be sure to…
-Don’t ignore the feedback received from previous presentations. Repeating an error or omission is worse than committing it the first time.

-Control the balance between ‘text’ and imagery.

-Did you provide content your research was intended to reveal? Was it delivered in a manner that the audience can understand?

-Consider the audience: How close will they be to your presentation (projection)? How long will the slide be visible for them to look at and assimilate it’s data?

-Time limit for the presentation.

–Sources properly credited/ cited.

 

The Results of P06_The Roaring 20s and Great Depression

I will make accessible the presentations created by all the research groups within our US History course. Take advantage of the hard work your peers put into the research that supports their presentation.

Below each presentation link is an edited compilation of questions Mr.V asked presenters after they have spoken.

To be updated…

01. Labor

Q.

02. Environment

Q.

03. Law: US Constitution & Federal Statutes

Q.

04. Foreign Affairs

Q. 

05. National Finance

Q.

06. Prohibition

Q.

Are You a ‘Stooge’?

Posted by Mr.V on 7 March 2018
Posted in: Activity, Commentary, Published. Tagged: , , , . Leave a comment
This was originally my instructions to students on a day that I could not attend due to winter weather conditions- 7 Mar. 2018. (The attachments mentioned in the statement are not provided here).

Are You a ‘Stooge’?

“Today, I will not be attempting an excursion into NYC as three of the four legs of my daily commute will be experiencing disruptions.

I wish to suspend, for today only, the activities we’ve been doing this week. We’ll resume upon my return. Instead, I want you to turn your attention to the recent announcement of a national student walkout in support of Gun Control legislation.

The tragedy that struck the students, families, and community in Florida on 14 Feb. should resonate with all of us. As a teacher- it affected me. As a parent- it affected me. As a former public high school student- it affected me. However, the lives lost on that fateful day were no more precious than the students who lost their lives or were maimed in similar circumstances over the past 20 years. No single life is worth more than another. They are all priceless.

My views on this matter is clear to all who know me. Students who have mercilessly been subjected to my impassioned academic sermons on the ills of Slavery and Gilded Age exploitation can infer what my views are. I’m not here to tell you what to do or believe. If I did compel you in this way, you and your peers from across the nation would be labeled as ‘Stooges’ (See below). Such a moniker is insulting. It implies that as a US Citizen or resident, your values and political views are vulnerable to the exploitation of persons wishing to prey upon your lack of inexperience and naïveté. The young ladies in my 2nd period US History course know, as recently as yesterday, that in matters concerning equal pay, their greatest weapon is their voice and conviction. The best way to combat the labeling as ‘Stooge’ is to gain experience and the knowledge to combat naïveté. Then, take action.

Despite my views on any political or social matter, I have to hold you to a higher standard. If you participate in the national protest, but have little to no knowledge of the events leading to the protest or the aims of the protest, then you are a Stooge. I don’t want you to bear the shame of that label and I certainly don’t want to be the person responsible for not providing guidance as you exercise your rights as an American.

1. Please read the articles I’ve provided below. They are meant to offer a background to the aims of the protest.

2. The last article on the list will help you understand that the views of government differ throughout the nation. Students in some locales will suffer for their actions in a way that you will not (if your participation is in keeping with principled conduct). The students in those States will understand, to some degree, that the ‘greats’ of the past are often remembered because they sacrificed the most.

3. Continue your own research into the 2nd Amendment debate that has embroiled the outcry after every mass shooting.

4. Lastly, take action grounded on knowledge, conviction, and confidence that the helm of our Democratic-Republic still functions. The citizenry can make ‘national’ course corrections.”

P05_HUS Progressive Era-A Time for Change

Posted by Mr.V on 28 February 2018
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P05_Progressive Era- A Time for Change

The activity will cover a period of time from ~1877 (End of Reconstruction) to 1920 (advent of the ‘Roaring Twenties). Of course, there may be a few exceptions that reache to an earlier or later date.

The period marks another watershed period for the nation. The successes and failures of the Recontruction policy of the Federal government established the foundation for the succeeding era: The Gilded Age. The age is marked by an economic expansion partially energized by a developing Business-Government partnership. For more than a quarter-century that partnership witnessed the rise of national corporations with an economic dominance we’ve come to associate with trusts/ monopolies. This growing power over the economic engine of the nation creates an atmosphere where laws, or any semblance of ethical conduct, is set aside for increased profits. The Business-Government partnership is not conducive to a self-regulating economic system.

The accumulation of wealth into the hands of a small, economically elite, fraction of the population contributes to a ‘Have and Have Not’ social picture. Philanthropy becomes an increasingly benevolent product of this disparity, but it’s unable to level the playing field for the ‘Have Nots’. Civil unrest, peaceful and deadly, pushes the nation’s leadership to reconsider the Gilded Age partnership with ‘Business’. Those leaders, from the larger than life characters (Teddy Roosevelt) to unionizing coal miners who lost their lives in shoot-outs, were integral in asking for reforms and executing ‘Calls to Action’ that created “The Progressive Era.”

This era in our nation’s history is labeled ‘The Gilded Age *** Progressive Era’ in our United States History Research Primer.

Phase I

1. Please open the P05_The Progressive Era mindmap prepared for you by Mr.V.

2. The mindmap contains branches that provide guidance for the completion of the research project. One branch identifies the general topic areas to focus our research investigations. The list of topic areas appears below.

01 Labor
02 Environment
03 Law: US Constitution & Federal Statutes
04 Foreign Affairs
05 National Finance
06 Prohibition

3. Organize your groups.

A. Choose a group leader. That group leader will be given a score reflecting their ability to successfully guide the group to a successful completion of the project. Group leader positions are on a project-by-project basis with everyone serving in that role at least once.

B. Choose a speaker. That speaker will be given a score reflecting their speaking performance during the presentation. Speaker positions are on a project-by-project basis with everyone serving in that role at least once.

C. Setup a communication system so that group members can communicate outside of classroom.

D. Choose how your group will collect, organize, and keep track of data collection by group members. If you decide to use a mindmap, you must share the map with Mr.V (full access). If you decide to use Google, you must create a ‘Team Drive’ and share that with Mr.V (full access). This segment of the project is not normally evaluated since it is a practical application of skills previously taught and practiced. However, under certain conditions, it may impact the group’s grade when a member’s contributions must be assessed for other reasons: Attendance/ tardiness issues, erroneous content presented as facts, etc. 

Phase II

1. Begin collecting sources that may be of use in the researching of your assigned topic area. The sources, as before, are to come from the US History Research Primer and any additional source you verify with Mr.V. The History Research Primer: Sources and Guidance is also recommended for use.

2. Avoid the temptation to begin constructing the presentation. You are expected to conduct this phase of your research in-class to permit you the opportunity to ask Mr.V questions when you encounter a difficulty. The construction of the presentation file is primarily an administrative task that can, and should, be done out-of-class. You will have no more than 5 class periods to perform this phase. Any additional time will have to be out-of-class.

Phase III

1. Begin the analysis of your accumulated source documents.

2. The gathering of data has to come to an end or you run the risk of never finishing. The analysis phase requires that you read, listen to (audio source), or view (video source) the content you’ve amassed. Keep the relevant materials and discard what proves to be unhelpful materials.

As you do this, your computer monitor should be split into two windows that allow you to analyze your source and take notes on that source. The notes you create should be available for members of your group to see and comment on in Mindmeister/ Google Drive. It’s important that ‘your’ notes bear ‘your’ name (Mr.V needs to be able to trace the notes to its creator).

You are expected to conduct this phase of your research in-class to permit you the opportunity to ask Mr.V questions when you encounter a difficulty. You will have no more than 5 class periods to complete this phase. Any additional time will have to be out-of-class.

Phase IV

1. Mr.V will have distributed to all group leaders, by now, a rubric outlining how the project will be evaluated. Use that rubric, and the P05_Progressive Era project mindmap to guide your analysis of the sources.

2. Construct and submit the presentation file in accord with the guidance provided by Mr.V.

3. On the first class day after submitting your presentation file, Mr.V will allow you one final opportunity to edit the file after viewing it on the large screen. If the edits are substantial, submit a new file before 7PM that evening.

Consider the following as you prepare the presentation:

Be sure to…
-Control the balance between ‘text’ and imagery.

-Did you provide the content your research was intended to reveal? Was it delivered in a manner that the audience can understand?

-Consider the audience: How close will they be to your presentation (projection)? How long will the slide be visible for them to look at and assimilate it’s data?

-Time limit for the presentation.

–Sources properly credited/ cited.

 

The Results of P05_The Progressive Era

I will make accessible the presentations created by all the research groups within our US History course. Take advantage of the hard work your peers put into the research that supports their presentation.

Below each presentation link is a compilation of questions Mr.V may ask presenters after they have spoken.

To be updated…

01. Labor

Q.

02. Environment

Q.

03. Law: US Constitution & Federal Statutes

Q.

04. Foreign Affairs

Q. 

05. National Finance

Q.

06. Prohibition

Q.

Pr03b_The Byzantine Empire was Roman with an Eastern Flavor! (Slide by Slide Description)

Posted by Mr.V on 17 January 2018
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Pr03b_The Byzantine Empire was Roman with an Eastern Flavor! (Slide by Slide Description)

The accompanying presentation to this slide by slide description can be accessed by clicking the link above.

Cover Slide: The Hagia Sophia is depicted here. See slide #7 for additional information.

Slide #2: Map of Western Europe in the early 6th C. CE.
A major contributor to the collapse of the Western portion of the Roman Empire was the migration/ invasions of nomadic and semi-nomadic peoples from the North and East. For centuries the Roman imperial army was able to repel these incursions and maintain relatively stable borders. That ended in the 5th C. CE.

These invaders are referred to as ‘Barbarians’ by Western texts. However, most had extensive exposure to the former empire and had diffused with it. The stereotypical image of a barbarian as being little more than a Neolithic nomad is false.

The naming of these ‘barbarian’ peoples is quite inaccurate as well. Goths (Ostrogoths and Visigoths) is a large category of peoples and NOT a distinct people. Major groups listed on the map include: Burgundians, Lombards, Saxons, Vandals, etc.

The Eastern portion of the Roman Empire will continue to live on for another 900 years around the former Greek city of Byzantium, to be renamed Constantinople. Historians in the West will rename the empire ‘Byzantine’ to distinguish it from the former empire that included the Western half. It should be noted, however, that imperial citizens of Constantinople still referred to themselves as ‘Romans’.

Slide #3: Constantinople. It’s location controlled the water passage from the Black Sea to the Mediterannean Sea. It was also a militarily strong location to defend from attackers.

Slide #4: This image shows a surviving section of the dual-wall perimeter that protected Constantinople from a land attack coming from the West. This was part of the wall designed under the Emperor Theodosius in the 5th C.

Slide #5: Mosaic depictions of Emperor Justinian and his wife, Theodora (6th C.).

Justinian reigned as emperor for many years and was at the helm for major achievements. Among these we would include: The Hagia Sophia, Corpus Juris Civilis, and reconquest of the former Western-half of the Roman Empire (temporarily).

Slide #6: Innovation continued under the Byzantine emperors. In this image we see the use of ‘Greek Fire’ to repel a sea attack.

Slide #7-8: The Hagia Sophia is depicted here. An architectural project sponsored by the Emperor Justinian (6th C. CE). Though built to serve as a church, it has gone through additional conversions over the centuries. The four towers around the structure are minarets added by the Islamic (Ottoman) Turks that conquered Constantinople in 1454. It now serves as a museum in the heart of Istanbul (formerly Constantinople).

The use of a dome to cap churches is a Roman cultural tradition that has survived until today. This tradition of placing domes on religious structures reaches back into the Roman classical age with the Pantheon being the stereotypical example.

The European Middle Ages will witness the absence of domed churches as the plans, skill, and materials necessary to construct a dome was ‘lost’ along with the Roman Empire in the West after 476 CE. It will not be until the Renaissance when Western Europe will see its next domed structure.

Slide #9: Corpus (Body) Juris (Law) Civilis (Civil) = Body of Civil Law.
Commissioned by Justinian, this compilation of Roman law was a legal and logistical achievement. Justinian had scholars comb the legal archives of the empire to consolidate and edit the statute books of the Roman Empire dating back to the Emperor Hadrian (2nd C.) His goal was to make the legal system nombre efficient by removing laws that were no-longer useful.

Slide #10: Several significant works by one of Justinian’s secretaries- Procopius. Since Procopius’ inflammatory accounts of Justinian’s private life (The Secret History) would surely have had him imprisoned and/ or sentenced to death, he waited to publish it after the emperor’s death.

Slide #11: A map of the Byzantine Empire at it’s height of size under the reign of Justinian.

Slide #12-13: A major holy site for Christians today has it’s origin with the Emperor Constantine, who also established Byzantium as a Eastern Roman capital city in the 4th C.

The church enshrines, on one end, the traditionally accepted site of Jesus’ crucifixion (Golgotha/ Calvary) and Jesus’ tomb on the other end.

Slide #14-15: These two slides begin to show the developing differences between the Christian Church that had developed under a Christian Roman Empire.

After the empire collapsed in the West, the influence of the migrating/ invading peoples contributed to a faith that was developing differently compared to the Eastern half of the empire that remained in Constantinople.

The Byzantine Empire gave birth to the Eastern Orthodox Church (Eastern Church). In this first image we see priests dressed in religious robes.

The Western half gave birth to the Roman Catholic Church (Western Church). In the second image we see a priest dressed in religious robes common to that Church.

Take note how the developing differences are showing up in the garb and the styles of Crosses (Crucifixes).

Slide #16: An image of icons in the form of small statues is shown in the upper-left. The lower-right is a modern image showing the interior of the Hagia Sofia.

A major religious rift between the two Churches was how to treat the use of icons (in the pre-Digital Age, icons were physical and in predominantly in the form of statues and paintings).

A movement referred to as ‘Iconoclasm’ (Icon Smashing) began to appear in the reign of Justinian, but shifted into significance a couple centuries later. The Western Church continued to have icons present in the churches during services, while there was a growing opposition to that practice in the Eastern Church. There were many in the Eastern Church who saw the presence of icons in religious services as a form of idol worship. Those who were against the use of icons were called ‘Iconoclasts’ (Icon Smashers). Sometimes, the dispute became so heated that violence broke out and spread from the churches to the streets of Constantinople in the form of riots.

Slide #17: Since 1054, when the Western and Eastern Churches officially split apart (The Great Schism), there have been repeated attempts by leaders of both Churches to reunify. All attempts, thus far, have failed to achieve that unity.

Pr03a2_No Dark Age in the Islamic World (Slide by Slide Description)

Posted by Mr.V on 17 January 2018
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Pr03a2_No Dark Age in Islamic World (Slide by Slide Description)

The accompanying presentation to this slide by slide description can be accessed by clicking the link above.

Cover Slide: The Bismillah (“In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, Most Merciful”). The opening phrase to all the chapters (Sura) of the Qur-an, except for one (9th). It is also uttered before special occasions. The slide shows a beautiful rendition of Arabic calligraphy. Calligraphy is a tool to elevate text to a visual beauty while the text also maintains it’s literal beauty.

Slide #2: Map of the Islamic Empire. The Prophet dies in AD 632 (born AD 570), but not before he was able to unite the peoples of the Arabian peninsula. Each succeeding Caliphate expands upon the initial political success of the rising Islamic Civilization. The map is color-coded to show how each caliphate (Orthodox and Umayyad) extended the reach of the civilization. A great benefit of this map is that it’s easy to see how Jewish and Christian peoples diffuse with the advancing Arabs. The Byzantine Empire in the North is the greatest Christian presence in the region. The final caliphate (Abbasid, AD 750) is not shown since the expansion has predominantly halted and begins a gradual decline thereafter.

Slide #3: This slide reinforces the oft repeated statement of the power of cultural diffusion and commercial activity. Wherever the merchant goes, there goes the ideas of his society. Wherever contact is made, there is transferred the ideas. North Africa, as most of the ancient world, had contact with Arab merchants.

Slide #4: This graphic is great to contextualize size and the “bridging” role played by the Islamic Civilization. This empire connected East with West. Trade traversed the length of this empire and carried ideas far beyond their place of origin.

Slide #5: The Abbasid Caliphate is commonly associated with the Golden Age of Islamic Civilization. It’s achievement in the Arts and Sciences did not reflect it’s declining political influence. This map shows how the empire is contracting under the weight of rebellious provincial governors and external incursions (Fatamid Emirate of Iberia, The Frankish Kingdom of Western Europe, and the Turks of Central Asia).

Slide #6: The list of literary accomplishments is long and this slide only touches upon a small fraction. The Qur-an is accepted as the highest poetic form in the Arabic language. When one recites a verse from it, its as if the person is singing. 1001 Arabian Nights has achieved global recognition and still entertains people today despite it’s age. Calligraphy and the poems of Omar Khayyam elevate the written word to a state of beauty, beyond the ordinary role of conveying information.

Slide #7: Architecturally, the Islamic Civilization was able to assimilate the ideas of others (Rome’s arch) and modify/ transport them to ends of their empire (Spain- Alhumbra/ South Asia- Taj Mahal).

Slide #8: The mastery of navigation (for trade) and organize time (for prayers and rituals) turned the Islamic Culture into one of Math and Science. The requirement to read the Qur-an made the population literate (comparatively). Contact with the Indian Subcontinent expose the Arab merchant to numerals that are then carried throughout the empire. These numerals, erroneously, are known as Arabic Numerals. South Asia also contributes knowledge about the viral nature of illnesses and the tools that can combat it (Syringes).

Slide #9: Lastly, here are examples of pottery and rugs that sport the same visual beauty that adorns Arabic text. The religious prohibition to depict images of people also encourages experimentation with other artistic forms (Calligraphy, geometric shapes).