Age of Enlightenment

BLOG FRIDAY

1. This is an exercise in summarizing and making generalizations. Look at the chart and think about how you would describe the differences between these two sides. Create three separate sentences that you feel represents these differences.

The age of enlightenment brought improvement to all areas of society.

The paradigm shift was one from a closed system to an ever expanding society.

People varied their thinking and beliefs.

2. Which of the items on the list do you feel had the most impact on the rest of the list…in other words, which of these was most necessary for the rest to occur? In one-two paragraphs explain the one you would choose and justify why you would pick that one. A quality entry should look at the impact that this choice has on the others on the list.

The word "progress" was the most important one. Everything else on the chart is an example of progress, progress towards the future and modern day. Progress forward in religion, beliefs, society, and trade. Progress sums up what the Age of Enlightenment brought to the world. This is what makes it the most important word, because it demonstrates what is occurring all over the chart. No other word more accurately describes what occurs in this time.

3. Considering all of the terms on the list and the Enlightenment reading, please write paragraph that you believe summarizes the Age of Enlightenment.

The Age of Enlightenment was a huge step forward for civilization. People became more individualistic and diverse, food and art improved, and the church's power diminished.This was due to improvements in technology, such as the printing press that wide spread the bible. Removing power from the church itself and giving it to this holy book. This resulted in huge economic and creative growth. The future was a wide horizon, filled with opportunity and the world was growing larger and more united.

4. Look at your Enlightenment packet and pick one of the contributors that is discussed in that chapter. Write a brief description (2-4 sentences) of this person’s major contributions during the Age of Enlightenment. NOW, get online and find a current news article that connects to this person’s contribution. Please create a link to the story and write up a 3-4 sentence explanation of the connection.

Diderot created the encyclopedia. It was a huge wealth of knowledge covering all areas. Diderot claimed it was intended to "change the general way of thinking". He was correct due to the fact that it greatly assisted in the spread of enlightenment.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/classroom-innovation/video/churchfields-school-wikipedia


Diderot was the founder of the encyclopedia. He created the idea of a combination of many different types of knowledge. Today we have "Wikipedia" a giant online encyclopedia, covering almost every aspect of everything. Diderot is indirectly responsible for creating this, as he was the one to utilize the idea of a giant knowledge base. His contributions sparked this brilliant website, that anyone can contribute to, and anyone can learn from.

5. John Locke talks about people being a “blank slate” and how we are molded by our experiences. Talk about an experience in your life that has had a profound impact on making you the person you are today. If you would rather email this part (rather than put it on the blog) that is fine!

circa 2004 AD, I purchased my first computer game. This action sparked my own personal videogame revolution. The end result is that I own multiple gaming consoles both portable and home. Though the matter of whether or not this was a wise decision that led to positive results is still in hot debate, but it is undoubtedly one of the things that greatly contributed to who I am today. I spend a large amount of time gaming, spend a decent amount of my earnings towards it, and engage in conversation and debate about it frequently. If I was not the gamer I am today, there is no knowing what kind of person I would be.

Duncan vs. Macbeth

Blog Thursday (November 11)

Duncan
Duncan was a kind and just leader. He rewarded those who followed him loyalty and punished the ones that would betray him. Duncan's chief failing appears to be trusting his thanes too much, a fault that ultimately lead to his death. The original Thane of Cawdor betrayed Duncan. The king ordered him to hanged: "No more the Thane of Cawdor shall deceive our bosom interest. Go pronounce his present death," (1.3.63-64) however afterward he reflected; "He was a gentleman on whom I built an absolute trust." (1.4.13-14) Duncan recognized Macbeth's bravery on the battlefield: "O valiant cousin, worthy gentleman" (1.1.24) and promoted him for it; "With his [Thane of Cawdor's] former title greet Macbeth." (1.3.65) King Duncan was revered by his subjects; Lennox referred to him as "The gracious Duncan..."(3.6.4) and Macbeth thought highly of him "Besides, this Duncan hath borne his faculties so meek, hath been so clear in his great office..." (1.7.16-18) Unfortunately Duncan was to trusting of Macbeth, who murdered him as he slept. This was Duncan's ultimate failing, and the reason for his death.

Macbeth
Macbeth's rule was established through an act of murder, Machiavelli would justify this with is quote: "The ends justify the means." Macbeth also adhered to the quote "A prince never lacks a legitimate reason to lie" by killing Duncan's servants, and saying "O, yet I do repent me of my fury that I did kill kill them." (2.3.102-103) Claiming that the servants killed Duncan, though in reality he killed them to cover his tracks. "The first method for estimating the intelligence of a ruler is to look at the men he has around him." Macbeth followed this quote too, evaluating Banquo to be a threat and sending murderers to eliminate him: "Both of you know Banquo was your enemy." He reveals that he has soies in the households of all his lords: "There's not a one of them but in his house I keep a servant fee'd" (3.4.135) Overall Macbeth is a dishonest and mistrustful ruler, but by Machiavelli's standards he was an effective and powerful leader.

Aspects of Macbeth

• Appearance vs. Reality:
  Machiavelli was a strong believer in using deceit to gain power. Lady Macbeth is the epitome of this idea. Machiavelli's quote "A prince always has a legitimate reason to lie" highlights this perfectly. Lady Macbeth appears to innocent and helpless, when she is really cunning and ambitious. For example here is her planning to murder Duncan: "...That my keen knife see not the wound it makes, Nor heaven peep through the blanket of dark..."(1.5, 50-51) She shows this when she convinces Macbeth that he should murder King Duncan and take control for himself. She also plans the intricate details of his murder: "...What cannot you and I preform upon Th'unguarded Duncan? What not put upon his spongy officers, who shall bear the guilt of our great quell?" (1.7, 69-72) However she still maintains a face of innocence in front of others. Complementing the king and playing the courteous hostess. All of this lends to the idea of appearance vs. reality. Things are not as they seem, and people hide behind masks of deceit.
  
• Gender Roles:
  A majority of the characters introduced in the first scene of Macbeth are male. They display the typical male expectations oh honor, bravery, loyalty, and strength. Macbeth and Banquo are described to be these things. They probe themselves by fighting for the king against his enemies. As a captains description of Macbeth goes as follows: "For brave Macbeth- well he deserves that name!- disdaining fortune , with his brandished steel which smoked with bloody execution, like valour's minion." (1.2, 16-19). After bravely winning two conquests they return and are well received by the king. In contrast, the traitorous Thane of Cawdor is sentenced to death for disloyalty to the king: "No more that than of Cawdor shall deceive our bosom interest. Go pronounce his present death..." (1.2, 63-64)The only woman introduced is Lady Macbeth. She displays the typical values associated with a woman of her time: meekness, innocence, and loyalty. However she is revealed to the audience to be the opposite of these values. Lady Macbeth does not seem to fill in her gender roll. She shows ambition, and often manipulates Macbeth to reach towards her goal. In medieval times the wife was often subordinate to the husband, however she often reverses these roles. Shakespeare both included and ignored gender rolls in his play, varying them by character. Overall those that adhere to the expectations of their gender are portrayed as good, while those who do not appear to be evil.
  
  

• Loyalty and Honor:
  Loyalty and honor are considered positive traits for an individual. Loyalty pertains to being loyal to one's king. Subjects were expected to follow their leader, and maintain his rule. Honor is typically referred to in battle. Those that fought bravely and did not flee from their opponents were considered honorable. An honorable death could only be attained if one was facing their enemy, not with their back turned. Remaining loyal is also an aspect of honor. Upholding truth and justice is the task of an honorable man. Those that were disloyal or un-honorable were shunned by society. One could even be sentenced to death for disloyalty. Macbeth honor and loyalty are put to the test when he has the option to kill the king and take power for himself. In the final scene of act 1 he must decide between loyalty and ambition: "If it were done when 'tis done, then 'twere well it were done quickly. If th'assassination could trammel up the consequence, and catch with his surcease success: that abut this blow might be the be-all and the end all, here..." This is the most important way that Shakespeare's play focuses on honor and loyalty, the choice between right and want.
  

Machiavelli and the Prince

Helpful Link: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/n/niccolo_machiavelli.html

Machiavelli was a writer. His full name was Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli. He was born 1469 in Florence Italy. Machiavelli was a writer. He wrote his most famous book, "The Prince", in 1513. It was a compilation of advice on how to be a powerful and effective ruler. His advice became so widely renowned that the term Machiavellian was developed, meaning tactics of strategy and trickery in politics. Though his works are very controversial, they are still studied in modern day.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niccol%C3%B2_Machiavelli

"He who wishes to be obeyed must know how to command." I believe this Machiavelli's most important and relevant quote to the modern day. It is universal advice for any ruler, or one that wishes to rise to power. Our current president of the United States; Barrack Obama wouldn't have been elected if not for his extreme skill in leadership. He unified legions of voters behind him in order to become president. These are the qualities a leader needs. A anit-example that also reinforces this quote, is our previous president, George W. Bush. He was able to be elected, however he lost much of his popularity by starting a war many considered to be unnecessary. By the end of his term his popularity had dropped by at least 20%( http://www.pollingreport.com/BushJob.htm ) from 2005. This is all proof that an effective leader, must be able to keep the people under control, whatever methods he/she uses, must keep his subjects from rising up against him/her or rebelling.


"A prince never lacks legitimate reasons to break his promise." This is illegitimate advice for rulers of modern day. The reason that this is unfit for our modern rulers, is that many countries now give much more power to the people. Those who break their word or don't come through on their promises can now be impeached or asked to step down from position. It is important that rulers offer the people improvement, but they must be able to follow through with this guarantee. A former prime minister of Japan, left office, after he was unable to fulfill his promises to the country. The people of today are satisfied when a leader makes an improvement, not when they say they will.

"Before all else, be armed." This would have been very helpful advice for the Incas on the day they met with Pizarro and his men. They were celebrating a recent military victory, and due to this assumed state of celebration they were unarmed and unprepared for Pizarro's attack. This quote does not solely advise that you carry weapons with you, it is meant in a much broader sense to always be prepared and ready. This way you will not be caught off guard. This occurred, and the Incas were slaughtered like dogs because they were not ready and caught off guard.


This picture is an example of the "Before all else be armed" quote.

Prompt: Sucessful Historical/Fictional Leader

Aragorn was a hero of The Lord of the Rings series. He was a descendant of the kings who lead the men of Middle Earth. At first Aragorn, was reluctant to take up his position as king. However he eventually grew into this position. Aragorn was an inspiration to those who followed him. At first he only lead small groups, guiding the hobbits to safety. However he rose in prominence leading the fellowship after Gandalf perished, and eventually riding at the head of a full army of men who defied Sauron. In addition to being inspirational Aragorn was kind, always showing compassion for those injured or hurt. He was brave, often risking his only life to protect others. His determination and strength, was an example that others sought to follow, and in this way he inspired greatness.
Aragorn could not always show compassion, he had to make his followers safety his top priority. After the death of Gandalf the fellowship wished to halt an mourn his death, however Aragorn urged them on, to escape pursuing orcs. When the city of Gondor was under siege, Aragorn was forced to put aside his fear, and seek the help of the cursed undead. Ultimately everyone proffered from his decisions though they were not always easy ones to make. This is why Aragorn was such an effective leader.

Leadership Picture