April 18 Renaissance

Today we are looking at the Medici Family. Here are some starting questions

• What do you already know about the Medici family and the Renaissance?
• Where is Florence or Firenze, as it is known in Europe?
• The Renaissance starts in the 14th century; what century is that? What years does that include?
• How does a family become rich and powerful?

• What was unique about Cosimo, Brunelleschi, and Florence?
• How did Cosimo, Brunelleschi, and Florence contribute to the birth of the Renaissance?
• What problems do you foresee for the Medici family? Why?
• In what ways were the ancients and the great writers from the East and Orient different from the Christian thinkers of the Middle Ages?
• In what ways does our society discourage or punish people for thinking, believing, and acting differently from the majority?

The people of this time had many superstitions. Malleus Maleficarum (1487), is a book on the evils of women and a manual on catching witches. Report on the five most bizarre beliefs, including at least two that have to do with human anatomy.

This is a good website on this book to find superstitions.