Medieval Renaissance

Group Projects


The class will be divided into five groups: manors, towns/guilds, castles, churches and monasteries. Each group will do an oral report. The purpose of the report is to give all students an understanding of how your subject fits into the Medieval Ages. Each presentation will include an explanation of the objects built by your group. The presentation should also include the explanation of Medieval vocabulary words assigned to your group. Each report will include drawings, building a three dimensional replica of their subject, inclusion of assigned vocabulary and other interesting facts about their subject.

Manor

  1. Build a manor: Include a manor house, vassal's house, serf's huts, windmill, barn etc.
  2. Define and use: Feudalism, fief, investiture, lord of manor, vassal, yeoman, free peasants, serf, mead, grist
  3. Describe how people solved problems of food production and distribution during the four seasons of a year.

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Guilds-Towns

  1. Build a town. Divide up the following guilds. Each student must make one shop/building a) bakers b) blacksmith c) carpenters d) tailors e) tanners f) candle makers
  2. Each student will create a list of five craft standards for his or her trade. The sample of your craft will be evaluated using these standards.
  3. Each student will make a sign for the shop and a sample of the craft .
  4. Define and use guild, master craftsman, journey man, burgher and apprentice
  5. Describe the importance of guilds and their function in the towns.

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Churches

  1. Build a. gothic b. romanesque cathedral c. rose window
  2. Define and use gothic romanesque, rose window, barrel vault, groined vault, flying buttresses, ribbed groined vault and and pointed arch
  3. Show the architectural differences between gothic and romanesque by using your buildings
  4. Choose a gothic church and describe in detail the design features of the church
  5. Choose two gargoyles and explain in detail their history and use on the church
  6. Describe how money for churches was raised to build and to support their operation

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Monastery

  1. Build the layout of a monastery: a. school b.inn c. chapel d. monk's residence
  2. Define friar, monk, nun, Jesuits, bendictines, postulants, abbot, scribes, ablates, vows of poverty, chastity and obedience
  3. Describe a day in the life of a monk in a monastery
  4. Make three illuminated letters of the alphabet using Celtic lettering

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Castles

  1. Build a castle identifying the layout and defensive functions
  2. Define and explain king, knights, drawbridge, portcullis, battlements, donjon, dungeon, arrow loops, murder holes, tournaments, josting, squire, page and chivalry
  3. Describe food served at a feast, manners of the participants, setting the table and type of entertainment. Hold a banquet in class getting volunteers to bring in food. Food must represent items used at a medieval feast.

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