Renaissance Florence

Political and Economic Systems
Florence (Firenza) during the Renaissance was a republic before the Medici family took over. It was this family that made Florence the center of Renaissance Europe. Wealthy families of this city-state supported the Pope. The city itself was a city of great bankers and merchants. However, banking and trading did not just cause Florence to become the richest Italian city-state but also caused the citizens of Florence to be exposed to new ideas. People of other city-states that were contacted by people of Florence also were exposed to new ideas. This helped bring about and spread Renaissance worldviews.

The Medici Family
This very influential family was the oligarchy of Florence. Two of the Medici's were Cosimo de Medici and Lorenzo de Medici. Cosimo de Medici was called "the father of his country". He supported the arts and the construction of public buildings. Lorenzo de Medici (also known as Lorenzo the Magnificent) was a patron of the arts. When he died the center of the Renaissance moved to Rome.

Florence's coat of arms from http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Firenze-Stemma.png. Sources for this post from Our Worldviews, Grade 8 Textbook, published by Nelson Education.

The Journey of the Aztec

The Journey of the Aztec, in 4 very small frames.

Don't Cry in Your Sleep

Aztec Sun Stone

My "Aztec Sun Stone" is a collection of my values and beliefs. Personally I do not think I would be able to explain my worldview in one symbol so I have drawn many. First of all the rose in the star and the snake twisting around it show that I value nature. The symbols in the smaller blue points mean I like mythology (I think that counts as a value), and the circle of music shows I value music. The next ring showing a fish evolving into a bird shows that I accept natural processes, not supernatural processes.

To sum it up, my worldview, shown through these symbols is that: Nature is important, and we should try to conserve rather than destroy it for our own wants. I also think that science benefits the world and religion should not obstruct it. Ideas such as evolution explain the development of different animals including man very well. I also think that ancient cultures are very interesting.

In Memory of Wales

A couple days ago, we were commanded to write a "6 room" poem. As required I wrote it. So in remembrance of Wales I here by present you this poem.

Calm and Turbulent Waters

The sun peeks through turbulent clouds
Warm and comforting,
Bright against the greying sky
Wild horses race towards me
Than submerge under deep blue waves
As their manes lap against crystal shores
And carve rocky caverns in towering cliffs
While heather sways in their grassy beds

The wind whistles and howls
Waves crash then roar in anger
At rocks blocking their way
Roaring
Roaring
Roaring
The smaller waves lap against the sand
Like a little dog's tongue slurping up water
Birds screech above me
As they skim through the air

I feel calm
The serenity and anger of the sea
Is nothing
Where is the wind taking me?
I am safe though, safe on shore
Being pushed somewhere new

The Nine Muses

The Nine Muses were immortals of Greek mythology. They were the children of Zeus and the Goddess of Memory and each had their specialties. Calliope was the Muse of Epics, Polyhymnia the Muse of Hymns, Clio the Muse of History, Urania the Muse of Astronomy, Terpsichore the Muse of Dance, Melpomene the Muse of Tragedy, Thalia the Muse of Comedy, Euterpe the Muse of Music, and Erato the Muse of Lyrics.
My blog was previously named "Clio", but due to the fact I found this topic (history and archaeology) slightly restricting, I have changed the name of my blog to the Nine Muses. This will allow me to delve into my other interests instead of focusing on the past. Hopefully this will allow me to post more posts!

Image: The nine muses dancing with Apollo (taken from Wikipedia Commons)

The Whale Hunters

The North-West corner of Washington State, was inhabited by a tribe where powerful men were whalers. These men belonged to the Makah tribe.

A wale hunt was a serious thing. Whales provided meat, oil, sinew, bones (used for making weapons), and much that a village would need. Before the gray whales even came, the whale hunters were ready. The men and their wives had done the rituals: "They and their wives have fasted, bathed in secret prayer ponds, flogged themselves with stinging nettles, and entered the mind of the whale." National Geographic, Voices, America Before Columbus

The canoes leave, many canoes paddling out to the whale feeding grounds. Wives of the harpooners stay absolutely still in their beds facing the shore, trying to encourage the whale to be still as well...and head for the shore. Harpoons made of yew are used to be pushed into the whale, to be precise the whale's shoulder. It is not meant to kill the whale, but is meant to slow it down, for on the harpoon there is a line with many buoys strung on to it. This combined with the wound will slow the whale down. At this point the men will begin to sing, trying to encourage the whale to swim to shore. Eventually the whale will slow down, which is the point when a man may kill it with a sharp thrust with a lance. Another man will then jump into the water and sews the whales mouth shut, preventing water from getting inside its stomach and causing it to sink. As the whale is towed to the shore, the men continue to sing.

From National Geographic, Voices:Indian Perspectives, A Makah Village in 1491: Ozette