Exam Question 10

  I feel like a learned a lot this semester. We learned the most when we worked in groups and did the Google Presentations. I learned how to write an academic paper and cite sources correctly, and it will be really useful for my upcoming academic research papers. We also learned a lot about the Roman Empire and Alexander the Great. We accomplished a lot and I enjoyed the Renaissance Fair. Thank you Mr. Wojo!

Exam Question 9

            Renaissance Man is a term used to explain a person whose expertise spans a significant number of different areas. William Shakespeare was a Renaissance Man because he wrote his poetry using the iambic pentameter, wrote many plays with certain poetry tools, and created a skillful language used in his plays and poems. He has popular sonnets in a certain rhythm pattern and thinks precisely of the words that he uses for imagery and sound devices.

He has many famous quotes from his admired works of literature.  "To be, or not to be: that is the question," is the opening line of a soliloquy in Shakespeare’s famous play Hamlet. “Et tu, Brute?” is a quote from Shakespeare’s tragedy play Julius Caesar meaning “And you, Brutus?” Another quote is from his Sonnet 116 “Let me not to the marrage of true minds/ Admit impediments. Love is not love/ Which alters when it alteration finds,/ Or bends with the remover to remove.” Shakespeare was a very influential writer and person.

Sources:

Wikipedia. (2011). Sonnet 116. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonnet_116

Wikipedia. (2011). To be, or not to be. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/To_be,_or_not_to_be

Wikipedia. (2011). Et tu, brute. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Et_tu,_Brute%3F

Exam Question 8

            Romanesque architecture in churches began in the ninth century. It is very similar to Roman architecture. Cathedrals with Romanesque architecture had round arches around their doors, small windows, and big, round columns. They are generally symmetrical. There were no windows on the first floor for safety from the outside world. St. Philibert’s Church, an abbey in France, is a great representation of Romanesque architecture. The interior of St. Philibert’s Church shows enormous columns along the walkway to the altar (see figure 1). It also shows round arches along the ceiling of the church. The way that buildings were made was very similar to the spiritual life that people had in this time period. In the Romanesque Cathedrals, people secured themselves for the coming of judgment and fortifying of their souls. The cathedrals were like a fortress for the town and soul. Another church in Romanesque architecture is the Schoengrabern church. The Schoengrabern church is round and has barely any windows (see figure 2). It shows how private the Romanesque churches seemed to be. It is very plain and hides the interior.

            The Gothic Cathedrals were made very different than the Romanesque Cathedrals. They have stained glass windows that let in a lot of light, thin walls, elegant and sophisticated pillars, and pointed arches. Flying buttresses were introduced during this time. Since the Vikings had stopped invading, the Gothic churches had become the most important places in the community. They went along with the government system. People spent a lot more money on these churches to make them attractive. An example of a Gothic Cathedral is the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, France (see figure 3). The Notre Dame Cathedral has pointy arches and big windows. The windows are in many different shapes. Gothic architecture in cathedrals express that people had a new idea of letting light in. The Sainte-Chapelle also interprets Gothic architecture (see figure 4). It resides in Paris, France. The Sainte-Chapelle has beautiful stained glass windows that take up most of the walls of the building. They represent the change of theology. Architects learned new methods and ultimately changed the perception of these churches. The windows are very thin and colorful.

            There were obviously many changes made during the transformation from the Romanesque Cathedrals to the Gothic Cathedrals. Ideas of theology had changed drastically. Saint Étienne Church is an exemplary model of a Romanesque Cathedral. It has two symmetrical towers in the front (see figure 5). It has round arches and small window, just like a regular Romanesque Cathedral. Romanesque Cathedrals and churches were a lot older, and Gothic Cathedrals and churches were more modern. Romanesque churches have flat buttresses, while Gothic Cathedrals have flying buttresses. The Salisbury Cathedral has flying buttresses (see figure 6). In between the windows, there are flying buttresses. The Salisbury Cathedral is in England and it is Gothic architecture.

Appendix:

Figure 1

Church of St. Philibert, interior, 11^th century,http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Tournus_43_.jpg, photograph taken in 2008.

Figure 2

Schoengrabern Church, façade, 13^th century,http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Schoengrabern1a.JPG, photograph taken in 2007.

Figure 3

Notre Dame de Paris, facade, 13th century, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:NotreDameI.jpg, photograph taken in 2007.

Figure 4

Sainte Chapelle, interior, 13th century, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Sainte_chapelle_-_Upper_level.jpg, photograph taken in 2009.

Figure 5

Abbey Church of Saint-Etienne, façade, 11^th century,http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:France_Caen_Saint-Etienne_facade_c.JPG, photograph taken in 2005.

Figure 6

Salisbury Cathedral, façade, 13^th century,http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Salisbury_Cathedral_flying_buttresses.JPG, photograph taken in 2010.

Exam Question 7

1.      The Black Death was a deadly plague in Europe. The Black Death started because there was a flea in rats that carried the disease. The spread meant death or disease to the people of Europe. This pandemic spread very quickly.

2.      Symptoms were buboes on a victim. They were in the groin, neck, and armpits. It oozed puss and bled when it was opened. People vomited blood and had a fever. People also had freckle-like spots and rashes.  There was not a lot that Medieval physicians could do since people died pretty soon after they got the disease. Physicians did not have a lot of knowledge about what was happening to people or what the cause of the disease was, so they would give their patients herbs because it relieved the stench of the dying people.

3.      Today, we are more educated than the people in medieval times, so Scientists would try to find a vaccine against it. If it was a very deadly disease, a lot of people would die or move out of a dangerous area. It would be very scary and we would all cry like babies.

Source:

Giovanni, Baccacio. (1996). Medieval sourcebook- boccaccio: the Decameron. Retrieved from http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/boccacio2.html

Exam Question 6

1. http://richardscrusade.wikispaces.com/


2.           

To whom it may concern:

The entire Crusade is unjust! We are not accomplishing anything. Why are we wasting our time by fighting? It is an extremely bloody war. The Holy Land is losing its value. I, Saladin, think that Richard should confront me already. I let his people live, but Richard still attacked us. This whole war is pointless now. We have to keep the Holy Land sacred by not fighting over it. This must end already!

Sincerely, 

Saladin

Exam Question 5

Is it fair to say the United States is the modern day equivalent of the Roman Empire?

The Roman Empire was very powerful in its time period. It prospered for a long time, and it was led by good and bad Roman emperors. It is reflected as a time when new architecture and art was created, and the Roman Empire influenced a countless number of people. The United States, founded many years after the fall of the Roman Empire, is thought to resemble a present-day Roman Empire. Though some people think that they are similar, there are actually very different in many ways. The United States is not the modern day equivalent of the Roman Empire due to the economy, weapons and interests of the people in the time period, and difference in the way its government is run.

It is already the twenty-first century, and the United States has made a major impact on the world. It is one of the most ethnically diverse countries. It also has the world’s largest economy, but that is not always a good thing, considering that it is also in a lot of debt. In the article “Oil prices rise as OPEC maintains production levels” in the Opelika-Auburn News, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries said that they were not going to do much about gas prices because it is recovering the economy. For the Roman Empire, gas prices were not an issue to it. It had a lack of economy and circulating currency and that is part of the reason that it fell.

Another reason that the Roman Empire and the United States are not similar is the weapons that the people use and the habits that they go into. In the United States, there are gangs and other acts of violence that are even worse and gorier than the battles that the Romans fought in. There are guns that people can keep in their house now. In the article “2 found dead in Wallingford,” cops investigate the murder-suicide of a man murdering his girlfriend and killing himself afterward. People in ancient Rome did not have police officers watching their every move and investigating. Their headlines were definitely not “2 found dead in Wallingford.” They had other things to worry about like war and art.

The third difference between the United States and the ancient Roman Empire is the way the government is run. In America, the people are led by a president and three governmental branches: executive, judicial, and legislative. The Romans were led by good and bad emperors that led the empire to success or disaster. Today, the United States is led by Barack Obama, the first black president. In the article “Nation should ‘not panic’,” Obama expresses concern over slow job growth. Many Americans are unemployed and a number of them are homeless. In ancient Rome, there were many jobs (some that were pretty disgusting) that were available to do.  One of the good emperors that Rome had was Titus. He led the army to complete the conquest of Judaea. He was a very giving person, unlike some Americans today.

Though there may be some similarities, it is thought that the Roman Empire and United States are very different. It is not fair to say that the United States is the modern day equivalent of the Roman Empire. The time period had a significant effect on the people in both situations. The economy grew and the United States has a different type of influence on people than the Roman Empire had. The United States is not a present-day version of the Roman Empire because it has a different type of government system, leads itself to a lot of debt with its economy, and its people use weapons to instantly kill themselves.

Sources:                                                                                                                

Halsall, Paul. 2000. Internet ancient history sourcebook: divus titus. Retrieved from  http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/ancient/suet-titus-rolfe.html.

“Oil prices rise as OPEC maintains production levels.” Opelika-Auburn News 8 June 2011: 1. Newseum. Web. 8 June 2011.

"President expresses concern over slow job growth." Opelika-Auburn News 8 June 2011: 1. Newseum. Web. 8 June 2011.

“Two found dead in Wallingford.” New Haven Register 8 June 2011: 1. Newseum. Web. 8 June 11.

Exam Question 4

Herodotus article: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/04/opinion/04klitzman.html?ref=sept112001
Herodotus had a lot of facts, but he only used facts from his opinion. He was very biased and dramatic. He exaggerated a lot. This article is about a specific girl and it is her story. It is written in someone's opinion.

Thucydides article: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/01/us/01gitmo.html?_r=2&ref=
The writer of this article was not biased. He supplied information from both situations, just like Thucydides. He just told straight out facts.Thucydides wrote with general facts, but used opinions from both sides of the situation.

Exam Question 3

            The Egyptian and Greek views of the Afterlife are similar and different. They were both obsessed with the afterlife and assumed things because of their religion. There were gods in their afterlife that would tell them what they had to do. It was a complex world for Egyptians and Greeks.

The Egyptians believed in Ka and that the god Horus would weigh their hearts on a scale with a feather to find out if their hearts are lighter than a feather or not. If the heart was lighter or equal, they would let the person go to a pleasant afterlife. If the heart was heavier, they would stay in limbo for eternity. Egyptians had pyramids for burial. On the other hand, Greeks did not think that the afterlife was pleasant. Hades, the brother of Zeus, and his wife reigned countless drifting crowds of the shades of those who had died. "The Greeks believed that at the moment of death the psyche, or spirit of the dead, left the body as a little breath or puff of wind. The deceased was then prepared for burial according to the time-honored rituals," (Department of Greek and Roman Art 2003). Relatives of those that died held rituals for them.

Sources:

Department of Greek and Roman Art. "Death, Burial, and the Afterlife in Ancient Greece". InHeilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–. http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/dbag/hd_dbag.htm (October 2003)

Budge, E. A. (1985). The Book of the Dead. Retrieved June 8, 2011, from http://www.sacred-texts.com/egy/ebod/

Exam Question 2

1. The Agricultural Revolution was so important to the development of cities because housing developed, people settled down instead of following their food. People also started growing crops and jobs were created. Economy started to form. Trading took place, so cities developed.

2.

View Agricultural Revolution in a larger map


3. The agricultural system has collapsed. There is no food available to eat. Factories and farms have closed or shutdown. There are no plants being grown.  Irrigation system have stopped working. People are losing their jobs and healthcare. Everything bad is happening. Grocery stores have closed because they have no food to sell.
     It is literally chaotic here. People have gone crazy. There are barely any alternatives of food. People seem to be eating anything they can get their hands on. Everything is just getting worse as people keep dying. Some people are taking their own lives because they do not want to suffer.

Exam Question 1

http://todaysmeet.com/jcexam

Worst Medieval Job

                I think that the worst job was the barber surgeon. In medieval Europe, people were very scared of getting ill and there was poor sanitation. They used unhealthy methods of operation because their surgery was performed by barbers that were not professionals. They obviously did not know what they were doing considering they came up with an idea to put a funnel up the patient’s anus. An enema was a procedure used because they believed that when someone swallowed medicine, it would go into the stomach and be broken down by the heat of the liver, so they would have to put medication in by a different root. It was very gory to be a barber surgeon because they would amputate body parts and used razors and knives. They diagnosed patients by charts and the color and smell of their urine. They would cut open a wound to take blood out and then close it back up. It was very gruesome and I would hate to be a barber surgeon because I do not like blood or cutting people. I also do not like putting tubes up someone’s anus. I would be a terrible barber surgeon.

Kirsten's Freshman Year

            Kirsten learned a lot freshman year. She made a lot of new friends. She thought that high school would be hard and challenging at first, but she quickly got used to the new environment. During the first couple of days at John Carroll, Kirsten had trouble opening her locker. She had other students in her advisory open it for her. Then, she could eventually open it herself. Having an older sister attending at John Carroll, Kirsten came to the school knowing a lot of things about the school and a lot of people. During her journey, she experienced many new things. She thought that taking Honors English would be a difficult class, but she ended up getting an A. She made friends with classmates and students on her teams. She was a cheerleader in the fall and winter and played badminton in the spring. She never won a match at badminton, but won the JV cheerleading championship. She liked Tuesdays and Thursdays at school because she had three mods off. She received First Honors each quarter with no grade lower than an A. She became good friends with Quinn and Grace. She had many inside jokes with Travis. Her favorite class was math and she was in Mr. Russell’s advisory. On her English class field trip, she hung out with Katie D. and they embarrassed themselves a lot. One time in the cafeteria, someone accidentally threw a poptart at her and it got all over her shirt. Another time her friends were joking around and had gotten ketchup everywhere. She went to homecoming with a group of friends. She liked cheering at football games. Overall, it turned out to be a great year for Kirsten.

The King of the Jungle- Interpretation of the Third Crusade

Partner: Taylor Hoch

Click here to read our children story.

Why is it so important to understand the Spanish Inquisition if one is to really understand the culture of the Middle Ages? Final Draft

            Culture is the sum of inherited beliefs, values, knowledge, and ideas shared for a group of people. The Spanish Inquisition, a tribunal made to make sure people converted to Catholicism, occurred in the Middle Ages. It affected the culture of the Middle Ages and is a very significant event in history. It left a big impact on the government of Spain and the reputation of the Roman Catholic religion. Many people were tortured because of superstitious offenses, and heresy became a popular concern as the Spanish Inquisition emerged in the year 1478. During the Middle Ages, the Spanish Inquisition manipulated religion and altered the government of Spain; therefore, it is necessary to fathom the events of the Spanish Inquisition to fully understand the culture of the Middle Ages.

In the Middle Ages, culture revolved around religion and politics, and the Spanish Inquisition was a tool for the government to convert people to a certain religion. When Pope Sixtus IV, in alliance with King Ferdinand II of Spain and Queen Isabella, legalized the Inquisition in Spain, the Inquisition was used to show that the Church was omnipotent and supreme. The Inquisition was used as a weapon to show people that Christianity was all-powerful to Spain and no one should question the authority of the Church or they will be persecuted. The Church wanted to punish the nonbelievers and spread Christianity. Inquisition Productions, Inc. states:

But for the Pope the most terrifying threat came from upstart Christian sects who challenged church doctrine and the absolute power of the Roman Pope. To preserve the purity of the faith and the unquestioned authority of the Pope, the Church began to crack down on all dissenting with a new weapon: the Inquisition. For over half a millennium a system of mass terror reigned. Thousands were subject to secret courts, torture and punishment.

            The Spanish Inquisition was appreciated by the Spanish people and that is why it lasted for 350 years. In the Medieval era, the development of Christianity became the center of attention, and the Spanish Inquisition made changes to the reputation of the Church. According to Madden, “It [The Spanish Inquisition] stood guard against error and heresy, protecting the faith of Spain and ensuring the favor of God,” (2003). The Inquisition represented Spain’s view of what was important during the time: religion and government. Spain was purified when Jewish and Islamic people converted. Leaders of the Spanish government wanted more people to convert to Catholicism. Those who did not convert were claimed to be heretics. Spain united as a whole country when it was centered on one religion and everyone had the same beliefs.

The government changed due to the Spanish Inquisition. “Christian Europe was so endangered by heresy, and penal legislation concerning Catharism had gone so far, that the Inquisition seemed to be a political necessity. That these sects were a menace to Christian society had been long recognized by the Byzantine rulers,” (Blötzer 1910). While trying to unify its identity and power after the Crusades, Spanish leaders realized that Catholicism was their national religion. Catholicism made Spain very powerful. Catholics began to believe that different religions were a threat to their own. They began to torture those that did not convert to Catholicism. Spanish leaders took the Spanish Inquisition too far, and it became an extreme necessity to persecute nonbelievers of Christianity.

            The Spanish Inquisition was a very important event in the Middle Ages. The culture of the Middle Ages revolved around ideas focused on in the Spanish Inquisition. It affected the government of Spain and the Church in various ways.  Religious persecutions in the Spanish Inquisition portrayed inherited ideas of medieval culture. Understanding the concepts and beliefs during the Spanish Inquisition will lead a person to get to know the whole entire culture of the Middle Ages.

           

Works Cited:

Blötzer, J. (1910). Inquisition. In The Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company. Retrieved from New Advent: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08026a.htm

Inquisition Productions, Inc. Secret files of the inquisition. Retrieved from http://www.pbs.org/inquisition/

Madden, Thomas. (2003). The truth about the spanish inquisition. Retrieved from http://catholiceducation.org/articles/history/world/wh0075.html

Why is it so important to understand the Spanish Inquisition if one is to really understand the culture of the Middle Ages? Rough Draft

Like it is today, religion was very important in the Middle Ages. To unify the country, Spain developed a court called the Spanish Inquisition in the year 1478. The Spanish Inquisition affected the government and religion in Spain in the Middle Ages, and heresy was a big deal. To fully understand the culture of the Middle Ages, one must fathom the facts of the Spanish Inquisition. It is not necessary to understand the Spanish Inquisition to know the culture of the Middle Ages.

Understanding the Spanish Inquisition is necessary because it changed what people thought of Catholics forever. “Once Rome's religion changed to Christianity under Constantine, it retained the inquisitorial trial method but also developed brutal means of dealing with heretics who went against the doctrines of the new religion” (Bragg 2006). The Middle Ages revolved around government and religion. When Catholicism became very popular, it was for all of the wrong reasons.

People need to understand that religion was very different in the Middle Ages. The Inquisition affected the reputation of Catholicism. Madden stated:

In order to understand the Spanish Inquisition, which began in the late 15th century, we must look briefly at its predecessor, the medieval Inquisition. Before we do, though, it's worth pointing out that the medieval world was not the modern world. For medieval people, religion was not something one just did at church. It was their science, their philosophy, their politics, their identity, and their hope for salvation. It was not a personal preference but an abiding and universal truth. Heresy, then, struck at the heart of that truth. It doomed the heretic, endangered those near him, and tore apart the fabric of community. Medieval Europeans were not alone in this view. It was shared by numerous cultures around the world. The modern practice of universal religious toleration is itself quite new and uniquely Western.

            The Spanish Inquisition was very famous. According to Bragg, “The Spanish Inquisition set up in 1478 surpassed all Inquisitorial activity that had preceded it in terms of its reach and length. For 350 years under Papal Decree, Jews, then Muslims and Protestants were put through the Inquisitional Court and condemned to torture, imprisonment, exile and death,” (2006). Many people were condemned. Those that were condemned were converts. The Inquisitional Court had affected the government for Spain. Everything was changed. The Spanish Inquisition lasted for more than 350 years of converts suffering. Inquisitional activity brought trouble to Spain.

The Spanish Inquisition was a very important event in the Middle Ages. The court was lie genocide that affected Jewish and Islamic converts. It affected the lives of converts and the reputation of the Catholic Church. To thoroughly understand the culture of the Middle Ages, one must understand the truth about the Spanish Inquisition.

Works Cited:

Bragg, Melvyn. (2006). The spanish inquisition. Retrieved from BBC: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p003c1bw

Madden, Thomas. (2003). The truth about the spanish inquisition. Retrieved from http://catholiceducation.org/articles/history/world/wh0075.html 

How do Romanesque and Gothic Cathedrals express different understandings about religious theology? (Final Draft)

            The transformation from Romanesque architecture to Gothic architecture was significant to history. In the 12^th century, the evolution occurred. There were many changes to the architectural design in the churches and buildings. The fact that there were changes resulted in the differences between Romanesque and Gothic churches. Romanesque and Gothic churches express and represent different understandings about religious theology during the time that they were built. 

            Romanesque architecture in churches began in the ninth century. It is very similar to Roman architecture. Cathedrals with Romanesque architecture had round arches around their doors, small windows, and big, round columns. They are generally symmetrical. There were no windows on the first floor for safety from the outside world. St. Philibert’s Church, an abbey in France, is a great representation of Romanesque architecture. The interior of St. Philibert’s Church shows enormous columns along the walkway to the altar (see figure 1). It also shows round arches along the ceiling of the church. The way that buildings were made was very similar to the spiritual life that people had in this time period. In the Romanesque Cathedrals, people secured themselves for the coming of judgment and fortifying of their souls. The cathedrals were like a fortress for the town and soul. Another church in Romanesque architecture is the Schoengrabern church. The Schoengrabern church is round and has barely any windows (see figure 2). It shows how private the Romanesque churches seemed to be. It is very plain and hides the interior.

            The Gothic Cathedrals were made very different than the Romanesque Cathedrals. They have stained glass windows that let in a lot of light, thin walls, elegant and sophisticated pillars, and pointed arches. Flying buttresses were introduced during this time. Since the Vikings had stopped invading, the Gothic churches had become the most important places in the community. They went along with the government system. People spent a lot more money on these churches to make them attractive. An example of a Gothic Cathedral is the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, France (see figure 3). The Notre Dame Cathedral has pointy arches and big windows. The windows are in many different shapes. Gothic architecture in cathedrals express that people had a new idea of letting light in. The Sainte-Chapelle also interprets Gothic architecture (see figure 4). It resides in Paris, France. The Sainte-Chapelle has beautiful stained glass windows that take up most of the walls of the building. They represent the change of theology. Architects learned new methods and ultimately changed the perception of these churches. The windows are very thin and colorful.

            There were obviously many changes made during the transformation from the Romanesque Cathedrals to the Gothic Cathedrals. Ideas of theology had changed drastically. Saint Étienne Church is an exemplary model of a Romanesque Cathedral. It has two symmetrical towers in the front (see figure 5). It has round arches and small window, just like a regular Romanesque Cathedral. Romanesque Cathedrals and churches were a lot older, and Gothic Cathedrals and churches were more modern. Romanesque churches have flat buttresses, while Gothic Cathedrals have flying buttresses. The Salisbury Cathedral has flying buttresses (see figure 6). In between the windows, there are flying buttresses. The Salisbury Cathedral is in England and it is Gothic architecture.

            Romanesque and Gothic churches represent religious theology by their guise. The different structures built inside and outside of the churches show changes in the architecture that model the messages sent about the religion at that time. When Romanesque churches were first being built, Christianity appeared to be about fortifying the soul and securing for the coming of judgment. Gothic architecture was about letting the light shine. Catholicism had evolved into a more accepting and open religion, and it is shown in the appearance and mood of the architecture in the Romanesque and Gothic Cathedrals and churches. 

Appendix:

Figure 1

Church of St. Philibert, interior, 11^th century,http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Tournus_43_.jpg, photograph taken in 2008.

Figure 2

Schoengrabern Church, façade, 13^th century,http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Schoengrabern1a.JPG, photograph taken in 2007.

Figure 3

Notre Dame de Paris, facade, 13th century, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:NotreDameI.jpg, photograph taken in 2007.

Figure 4

Sainte Chapelle, interior, 13th century, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Sainte_chapelle_-_Upper_level.jpg, photograph taken in 2009.

Figure 5

Abbey Church of Saint-Etienne, façade, 11^th century,http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:France_Caen_Saint-Etienne_facade_c.JPG, photograph taken in 2005.

Figure 6

Salisbury Cathedral, façade, 13^th century,http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Salisbury_Cathedral_flying_buttresses.JPG, photograph taken in 2010.

How do Romanesque and Gothic Cathedrals express different understandings about religious theology? (Rough Draft)

            The transformation from Romanesque architecture to Gothic architecture was significant to history. In the 12^th century, the evolution occurred. There were many changes to churches and buildings. Romanesque and Gothic Cathedrals express and represent different understandings about religious theology during the time that they were built. Romanesque and Gothic Cathedrals do not mean anything about theology.

            Romanesque architecture in churches began in the ninth century. It is very similar to Roman architecture. Cathedrals with Romanesque architecture had round arches around their doors, small windows, and big, round columns. They are generally symmetrical. There were no windows on the bottom/first floor for safety from the outside world. St. Philibert’s Church, an abbey in France, is a great representation of Romanesque architecture. The interior of St. Philibert’s Church shows enormous columns along the walkway to the altar (see figure 1). It also shows round arches along the ceiling of the church. The way that buildings were made was very similar to the spiritual life that people had in this time period. In the Romanesque Cathedrals, people secured themselves for the coming of judgment and fortifying of their souls. The cathedrals were like a fortress for the town and soul. Another church in Romanesque architecture is the Schoengrabern church. The Schoengrabern church is round and has barely any windows (see figure 2). It shows how private the Romanesque churches seemed to be. It is very plain and hides the interior.

            The Gothic Cathedrals were made very different than the Romanesque Cathedrals. They have stained glass windows that let in a lot of light, thin walls, elegant and sophisticated pillars, and pointed arches. Flying buttresses were introduced during this time. Since the Vikings had stopped invading, the Gothic churches had become the most important places in the community. They went along with the government system. People spent a lot more money on these churches to make them attractive. An example of a Gothic Cathedral is the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, France (see figure 3). The Notre Dame Cathedral has pointy arches and big windows. The windows are in many different shapes. Gothic architecture in cathedrals express that people had a new idea of letting light in. The Sainte-Chapelle also interprets Gothic architecture (see figure 4). It resides in Paris, France. The Sainte-Chapelle has beautiful stained glass windows that take up most of the walls of the building. They represent the change of theology. Architects learned new methods and ultimately changed the perception of these churches. The windows are very thin and colorful.

            There were obviously many changes made during the transformation from the Romanesque Cathedrals to the Gothic Cathedrals. Ideas of theology had changed drastically. Saint Étienne Church is an exemplary model of a Romanesque Cathedral. It has two symmetrical towers in the front (see figure 5). It has round arches and small window, just like a regular Romanesque Cathedral. Romanesque Cathedrals and churches were a lot older, and Gothic Cathedrals and churches were more modern. Romanesque churches have flat buttresses, while Gothic Cathedrals have flying buttresses. The Salisbury Cathedral has flying buttresses (see figure 6). In between the windows, there are flying buttresses. The Salisbury Cathedral is in England and it is Gothic architecture.

           There are many differences between Romanesque and Gothic Cathedrals. When Romanesque churches were first being built, Christianity was about fortifying the soul and securing for the coming of judgment. Gothic architecture was about letting the light shine. Catholicism had changed to a more accepting and open religion.

             

            

Figure 1

Church of St. Philibert, interior, 11^th century, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Tournus_43_.jpg, photograph taken in 2008.

Figure 2

Schoengrabern Church, façade, 13^th century, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Schoengrabern1a.JPG, photograph taken in 2007.

Figure 3

Notre Dame de Paris, facade, 13th century, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:NotreDameI.jpg, photograph taken in 2007.

Figure 4

Sainte Chapelle, interior, 13th century, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Sainte_chapelle_-_Upper_level.jpg, photograph taken in 2009.

Figure 5

Abbey Church of Saint-Etienne, façade, 11^th century, http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:France_Caen_Saint-Etienne_facade_c.JPG, photograph taken in 2005.

Figure 6

Salisbury Cathedral, façade, 13^th century, http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Salisbury_Cathedral_flying_buttresses.JPG, photograph taken in 2010.

The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire

           The end of the Roman Empire is a major event in human history. There is a lot of dispute on the cause and the time when the empire ended. The exact end to the empire is still a mystery today. The Roman Empire fell due to the combination of many bad things happening. The Roman Empire did not evolve; the Barbarians, Christianity, and Rome’s government are the causes of the ultimate collapse of what had once been the greatest empire in the world.

            Christianity was a major key to the decline of the Roman Empire. Christianity and religion affect civilization. The Roman Empire changed its name to the Byzantine Empire because of Christians. As Christianity rose, the empire sunk (Toynbee). “Religious precepts are easily obeyed, which indulge and sanctify the natural inclinations of their votaries; but the pure and genuine influence of Christianity may be traced in its beneficial, though imperfect, effects on the Barbarian proselytes of the North,” (Gibbon). Christianity, not only affected the empire, but also affected the Barbarians that helped destroy it. This religion was very influential to Romans and the Barbarians that converted to Christianity (History-world.org). Many people, even famous emperors like Constantine, converted to Christianity. Christianity was legal and outlawed at different times. It caused many changes throughout the years in the empire.

The Barbarians were successful in taking over the empire. The first of the Barbarians to conquer Rome were the Visigoths on the West side (History-world.org). The East side survived while the West side had gotten destroyed. Gibbon stated, “The endless column of Barbarians pressed on the Roman Empire with accumulated weight; and, if the foremost were destroyed, the vacant space was instantly replenished by new assailants.” The Barbarians easily defeated the armies of the Romans because the Romans were unaware of their danger and their number of enemies (Gibbon). The Barbarians did not give up and kept fighting the Romans. The Romans could not defend themselves, and the destruction of the empire took place.

            The decline and downfall of the Roman Empire was partly because Rome had a disorganized and weak government. The Romans could not raise enough money for taxes, so they stopped paying and lost complete power (Heather). The English historian Edward Gibbon wrote, “The decay of Rome has been frequently ascribed to the translation of the seat of empire; but this history has already shown that the powers of government were divided rather than removed.” The empire did not get rid of the government, but when it divided, it became less powerful. Rome had split in two sides: the East and the West. On the West side, there were numerous emperors that divided the empire, which caused chaos to the empire. The Roman Empire formed an oppressive government system with weak rulers that had gotten worse over time. Eventually, the empire was no longer in the west.

There may have not been one reason, but there was a gradual process that led the empire to fall. The end of the empire is still argued today because no one knows when it truly happened. People should be proud that the empire lasted for as long as it did, though. Barbarianism and Christianity had succeeded after all. The Barbarians, government, and the ability of the Roman Empire to fall under the influence of Christianity led it to decline. The Roman Empire collapsed due to a combination of many things.

Works Cited:

Gibbon, E. (n.d.). General observations on the fall of the roman empire in the west. Retrieved       from http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/gibbon-fall.html.

Heather, P. (2011). The fall of rome. Retrieved from             http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/romans/fallofrome_article_01.shtml

History-world.org. Goths. Retrieved from http://history-world.org/goths.htm.

Toynbee, Arnold. (1948). Christianity and civilization. Retrievied from             http://www.myriobiblos.gr/texts/english/toynbee.html.