Unit Theme/Focus

The Renaissance (1250 – 1527) and the Reformation (1500 – 1648)

Grade Level  

9^th

Duration (days/weeks)

4 weeks at the beginning of the year..

Description

This unit covers Western Europe from the rebirth of classical learning to the end of the 30 Years’ War.

Essential Learnings

1. Dante.
2. The use of the vernacular.
3. Venice and the 4^th Crusade..
4. Florence and the Medici.
5. the Papacy.
6. Da Vinci.
7. Michelangelo.
8. Raphael.
9. Machiavellian.
10. Italian violence.
11. the Holy Roman Empire.
12. Charles V.
13. the Papacy in Avignon.
14. Problems of Catholicism.
15. Martin Luther 1517.
16. Calvin.
17. Henry VIII.
18. Thomas More.
19. The Council of Trent.
20. The War of the Faiths.

Learning Goals

1. Why the Renaissance happened in Italy.
2. the nature of the Italian city-state.
3. Greek and Roman antecedents.
4. Effect of The Divine Comedy.
5. Effect of The Prince.
6. Power politics in the Italian city-states.
7. the role of the Papacy.
8. Patrons and artists.
9. the corruption weaknesses of the city-state.
10. Why did Charles V invade (1527)?
11. Effects of heresies upon the Church.
12. Papal corruption.
13. Why France controlled the Papacy?
14. Effect of the 95 Theses.
15. Catholic and Protestant theology.
16. Effect of Ignatius Loyola.
17. Effect of the Council of Trent.
18. Why did Protestants and Catholics go to war?
19. Effect of the Protestant Revolt.

Primary Assessments

1. All students must master the elements of historical essay writing.

2. All students must be familiar with the analysis of historical data.

3. All students must be able to outline the causes and effects of both the Renaissance and the Reformation. 

Technology Integration

1. All quizzes and exams must have an Internet component; that is, all  essays must show evidence of research done outside of the class and the text.

Interdisciplinary Connections

1. Literature: Dante.
2. Art: Michelangelo, Da Vinci and Raphael.

Materials

1. The Pageant of World History.
2. The Divine Comedy, Dante.
3. The Prince, Machiavelli.

Teacher Reflections

1. Weekly in-class essay quizzes and exams have proved to be invaluable to improve students’ writing and understanding of the subject. 

2. Having all students show evidence of Internet research improves markedly the quality of information written on in-class essays.