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This is the most extensive of the kits on the Middle Ages. Many connections are made between Europe and the rest of the world. The first connection is a comparison of feudalism in Europe and Japan. Students look at the Way of the Samurai and the Forging of a Knight going far beyond the warriors themselves and looking at the cultures that produced them. Included in this study is a fascinating look at the world of Richard the Lionheart noting his connection to the Middle East and emphasizing the cultural exchange that was the unintended result of the Crusades. Christianity and the Power of the Roman Catholic church is a major part of this study. Students analyze Pope Urban II's address at Clermont calling for the onset of the religious crusades. They also use primary source documents to look at the position of women in Europe at this time. Castles and cathedrals are emphasized in the architectural section of this study. More than any other artist, Giotto epitomizes the direction toward a new realism in sculpture and painting. Again students use primary sources to analyze the role of the church in the life and work of contemporary artists. The literature selection is The Ramsey Scallop, another link between medieval England and a Spain where the pendulum as only recently swung from Islamic practices to a new Christian purchase. |
