ENRICHED + HONORS: Do Nows, January and February

I will be collecting Do Nows from January and February on Friday - this will be a 20 point assignment. Below, I have posted all the Do Nows in chronological order. Students must have no more than 1 Do Now missing for full credit. The length expectation for Do Nows is 5-7 sentences for Enriched and 7-10 sentences for Honors (unless the question says "list" or "brainstorm").

Full-credit responses should go beyond the bare minimum of effort - they should show evidence that the student has grappled with and attempted to understand the subject matter to the best of their ability, and they should make an argument (when applicable) that is backed up with reasons and evidence.

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1-5-11:

Please write in your notes: “Middle Ages” = 476 A.D. - ~1400 A.D. = Europe from the fall of the Roman Empire to the Renaissance. Then, answer both of the following:

-The Middle Ages in Europe are sometimes called the “Dark Ages” or the “Age of Faith.” Connect each of these labels with something you know about this time period – what might each label suggest about the time period?

-During the Middle Ages, the Roman Catholic Church was the sole religious organization in Western Europe. What are some pros and cons of having one dominant religion (instead of religious diversity) in a society?

1-7-11:

What are some of the hardships you think that serfs faced during the Middle Ages? What restrictions did they have on their political freedom, mobility, and economic freedom (right to buy/sell/earn a living)?

1-14-11:

Please answer BOTH of the following:

In what ways do you think people’s religions, ideologies, or belief-systems can lead to conflict? Can they sometimes lead to peace?
Describe 1-2 interesting things you learned about the person or type of person from the Middle Ages you wrote your pen pal letter about.

1-18-11:

During the Crusades, tens of thousands of European Christian men left their families and traveled to wage war against Muslim communities in Spain and the Middle East. Around half of those who left never returned home.

Crusaders’ motives included: religious fervor (strong belief); desire for adventure or glory; and hope for wealth, riches, and land.

In a paragraph, explain the role that different motives might have played in driving the Crusaders’ actions. OR, put yourself in the shoes of one of the Crusaders - which reasons to join a crusade would you find most compelling?

1-19-11:

Please answer both of the following questions:
1. Brainstorm as many examples of Japanese culture and commerce as you can think of. (Think of: technology and technology companies; auto companies; anime; martial arts; food; sports; etc.)

2. Why do you think Japan is called the “land of the rising sun”?

1-25-11:

During the Tokugawa Era (1603-1868), Japan had a feudal system of government similar to that of Europe in the Middle Ages.

Who are the European counterparts of each of the following figures in Japanese feudalism?

Example: Shogun - military ruler of the country = similar to Europe’s Kings

Daimyo - local lords/landowners; similar to…
Samurai – privileged class of warriors who worked for the daimyo; similar to…
Merchants and artisans; similar to…
Peasants – tilled the Daimyo’s land; similar to…

1-26-11:

After the Tokugawa Shogun kicked out the Portuguese and began persecuting Japan’s Christians (who had been converted by the Portuguese missionaries), they sealed off the country to foreign trade and influence for around 200 years. This is a policy of extreme isolationism or autarky (total self-sufficiency).

What consequences do you think this isolation from the outside world may have had for Japan’s economy, technology, and culture?

2-7-11:

Please write the following in your class notes: The period of European history that followed the Middle Ages is called the Renaissance, a word meaning “rebirth.” The Renaissance overlaps with another period called the Reformation, in which Protestant Christianity was born. These two periods spanned around the years 1450-1650.

QUESTION: How do you think different areas of Europeans’ lives might have experienced a “rebirth” after the end of the Middle Ages? Predict possible changes in the areas of learning/thought/ideas, religion, technology and science, commerce/trade, government, exploration, etc.

2-10-11:

Thinking about the video we watched in class earlier this week as well as the reading you completed for today, write a paragraph on the following question:

How did the worldview of the Renaissance differ from the worldview of the Middle Ages? Provide specific examples.

2-14-11:

Please answer the following question, giving reasons for your response:
Why do you think so few scientific developments (in medicine, technology, etc.) occurred during the Middle Ages, but so many occurred during the Renaissance?

2-16-11:

What is meant by the term “Renaissance Man”? Why was Leonardo da Vinci considered to be a prime example of a Renaissance Man?

2-17-11:

Please answer both of the following:

Brainstorm the names or denominations (sects) of as many Christian churches in Durham (or your hometown) as you can think of. (Examples: Lutheran, Baptist, Catholic, etc.)

What are some reasons people might have for leaving their religious community and joining or starting a new one?

2-18-11:

What were some of the Reformers’ criticisms of the Catholic Church? Which of these criticisms do you think was the strongest/most powerful, and why?