Medieval Japan - Heian Period - Literature

Life in Ancient Japan by Hazel Richardson
Read-aloud: Mysterious Tales of Japan by Rafe Martin

Discussion:
Invention of the novel - Murasaki Shikibu
Types of poems - Manyoshu (Collection of a Thousand Leaves)
Poetry slam - Sei Shonagun and life in the imperial court

Activity:
History journal
Poetry reading

Imperial China - Song Dynasty - Hsin Fa (New Laws)

The Song Dynasty by Scott Ingram

Discussion:
The new scholarly class - tension between conservatives and reformers
Hsin Fa: taxation system, distribution of public money
Reduction of the military

Activity:
History journal

Imperial China - Song Dynasty - Foundation

The Song Dynasty by Scott Ingram

Discussion:
Zhao Kuangyin of the Zhou Dynasty in Northern China
Slow re-unification and dismantling of hereditary jiedushi governors
Re-instituting the Confucian examination system (again)

Activity:
History journal
Map study

Medieval Europe - Albertus Magnus, Thomas Aquinas, Bonaventure

Albertus Magnus - Bartholomew's World
Bonaventure - Bartholomew's World
The Treasury of Saints & Martyrs by Margaret Mulvihill
Loyola Kids Book of Saints by Amy Welborn

Discussion:
Albert as a scientist - experiments
Thomas Aquinas - major contributions
Bonaventure - mysticism and theology

Activity:
History journal
Take a look at Thomas' handwriting - (it's the second one, not the illuminated folio)

Medieval Europe - Scholasticism

Bartholomew's World - What is scholasticism?
Important Authors of the Scholastic tradition

Discussion:
Aristotle, Averroes, and Avicenna
Major western thinkers
Theories of motion, psychology, elements, humors

Activity:
History journal
Draw a map outlining where the interior senses are in the brain, see Algazel on the Interior Senses

Medieval Europe - The 12th-Century Renaissance

Read-Aloud: The Lais of Marie de France, Arthurian Romances by Chretien de Troyes

Discussion:
"Re-birth" of the arts and sciences in Europe
Flowering of culture, trade, technology
Centralization of government, expansion of cities

Activity:
History journal
Picture study - works from the 12th and 13th centuries, major painters and writers of the era
Recover from medieval feast of last night

Medieval Europe - Abelard and Heloise

Peter Abelard by CJ Mews
On Romantic Love - Heloise and Abelard's views

Discussion:
Life of Peter Abelard - popular teacher at Paris
Abelard's personalilty
Love affair with Heloise
Public letters

Activity:
History journal
Chart - compare Abelard's description of the affair to Heloise's

Medieval Europe - The University System

What is scholasticism?

Discussion:
Cathedral schools turn into locales of study
Methods of study: trivium and quadrivium
Major universities founded: Paris, Oxford, Bologna
Book production

Activity:
History journal
Map study - locations of learning