Monday, February 25th, 2013

Today our agenda was as follows:

• Revealed the symbolism in the movie 1492: Conquest of Paradise - specifically the scene where Columbus comes ashore - camera focuses on his boots. In the background you hear two styles of music, a Native American man and what sounds something like Gregorian Chant. What does it mean when Columbus falls to his knees and the Native man stops singing? What does it mean focusing on Sr. Columbus's boots slowly coming out of the water?
• Introduced the topic - How the Great Age of Exploration Began?
• Started with the question - "Why Europe?" Europe was a mess after the fall of Rome. The Dark Ages. The Crusades (later). The Bubonic Plague.  Europe fragmented/fractured - the Feudal Age - need we go on?
• Moved into the three sweeping events which will change all of this...The Decline of Feudalism, The Crusades and Trade with the East, and the Renaissance.
• Did TWO skits - The Revival of Towns and Trade and The Crusades!

The Crusades!