Review (from 6th and 7th) You have the Greeks. They'll create democracy in Europe and embrace the ideas of human value, worth. Then Greece comes to an end and then you'll see emerge in the SAME Mediterranean world Rome. Rome started as a republic. Embraced architecture, art, rhetoric(debate, persuasion) human value,culture. Of course this too comes crashing down. Rome JUST GOT TOO BIG (think 7th grade) The Emperor Constantine will create a new roman capitol which he'll call Constantinople in the east, modern day Istanbul. "Rome" the capitol of the older empire will continually fall into disrepair. I think someone in period 3 mentioned that it is finally done in by Vandals, barbarians in the 5th century. THIS leads to the Dark Ages/Medieval World. There is no ROME to tell the empire what to do. Things become VERY decentralized. Big cities, like rome, give way to feudal land holdings that are controlled by lords. Knowledge, skill from the Greco Roman era fades away---it's not gone but it fades away. In fact, Catholic Monasteries will be incredibly helpful in maintaing Classical manuscripts, writings, etc. In constantinople, things are good.  The belief in the greatness of main, "humanism" will emerge w  again w Petrarch in the 14th Century. These HUMANISTS will love rhetoric (old debates on govt, life, human dignity) rome architecture, greco roman culture. These cities are in ruins and constantly they're digging up old stuff that show, "WOW!! Look at the detail of this sculpture!! We can't do that!!" Things will begin to change The view that this life is only a "waiting room" for the next will be challenge by many. Secularism will emerge. 

 

***********Clergy, Clerical, Clerics refer to Catholic priest or Catholic religious figures. 

 

******Although "Italy" does not exist, many of these "Italians" will recognize they share similar culture, traditions, of the old world. They have greatness in common. They'll also become rich due to "Italy" location to trade. Its urban centers are going to be reminiscent of the old Greco-Roman days. Large cities were cultural and business centers. It's no coincidence why these urban centers will be the springboard for change. 

 

****Scholasticism V.  Humanism!!!!!! The former was a way to understand the world utilized heavily by the end of the middle ages. It was a way to marry church teachings with the ideas of Aristotle, considered the smartest dude who ever lived. Granted, he' been dead for almost two thousand years. Humanists thought this "scholasticism" was OLD. They thought it medieval. They thought that it failed to take into account new ideas, it relied on religious debates and used religion to help explain the world. The humanists said, NO! we want answers! WE want debate!!! Let's think CRITICALLY! Let's study language! (philology---Hey! Valla studied ancient latin and realized the Donation of Constantine was a fraud!! --The Latin used in it was from the 9th century, NOT the 5th!! so there is no way the Church could accurately claim title to land they said Emperor Constantine and left them----it was a fraud!!---You'll see this later by reformers to challenge the Catholic Church-KNOWLEDGE IS POWER!They thought this classical writers were just awesome. Humanists believed focused on teaching the "Art of the living." 

-----Humanists thought the individual GREAT. Art of the renaissance will promote the individual. The self portrait, the secular art, the patronage of artists. Stuff like AUTOBIOGRAPHY will begin to happen---Remember, "you're important!" MORE TOMORROW!!!!