Monday, May 17, 2010

Presentation - 4th quarter.

In the time of the Renaissance, hospitals were much different than we think of them. They earned a negative reputation due to the battlefield medicine which was not as sophisticated as hospitals in towns and communities.

Many advances were being made at this time. They had discovered different ways to perform certain surgeries and to medicate patients.
Ambroise Pare was the first person to use ligature to cease the bleeding of a wound. The traditional method was to use boiling oils or red hot pokers.
They also began to use herbs as another method of easing pains and killing off diseases.

Medicine was prescribed based on the system of the humors, there were four humors in the body and they were all connected to seasons, elements and astrological signs.

Black bile - earth - Autumn
Yellow bile - fire - Summer
Phlegm - water - Winter
Blood - all four elements - Spring

The use of herbs corresponded with this system and the success of herbs is attributed to this theory.

Hospitals at the time contained private wine cellars, manicured facilities, freshly cooked meals and spiritual healing. Visitors were treated with wine and food from the premises and could even choose the wine they’d like based on illness and appetite.

There is even a document from the 16th century that details care at the Santa Maria Nuova hospital in Florence. Patients there were able to simply ring a bell to alert someone that they wanted assistance. They were fed different dishes such as vegetables, bread, and chicken soup, all of which were prepared on the grounds of the hospitals. Some even had their own vegetable gardens just to feed their patients.

Source 1 / Source 2 / Source 3

Monday, December 7, 2009

Makeup blog. (for points.)

The Second Crusade was started in 1145. It was the second of the crusades committed by Christians at the time. These Crusades were in efforts to take back their holy city, Jerusalem.
The Second Crusade was launched from Europe. As supported by Pope Eugene III, the soldiers departed after the loss of the county of Edessa to the forces of Zengi. This had occurred in the previous year. This county had been founded in the First Crusade.
This crusade was the first to ever be led by a European kings. Both Louis VII of France and Conrad III of Germany contributed to the Second Crusade. The two armies of these kings were separated for more fighting power. Some other European nobles were also played a role in this war.
"After crossing Byzantine territory into Anatolia,
both armies were separately defeated by the Seljuk Turks." (source)
"Byzantine emperor Manuel I Comnenus secretly hindered the crusaders' progress,
particularly in Anatolia where he is alleged to have deliberately ordered Turks to attack them.
Louis and Conrad and the remnants of their armies reached Jerusalem and,
in 1148, participated in an ill-advised attack on Damascus.
The crusade in the east was a failure for the crusaders and a great victory for the Muslims."
(same source.)
The Second Crusade, as the quote had explained, was a loss for the Christians. When the armies had divided, the war had spiraled downwards. Being defeated as a whole, it was made easier for the opponent to keep conquering.
Yet, this was not the last of the Crusades in the fight for the holy city. This was merely the second attempt. There were more to come in the hopes that Jerusalem would finally be back in their hands.

Renaissance Art.

Renaissance art, to this day, is the carriage of some renown works. Equppied with artists such as Donatello and Leonardo Da Vinci, it has inspired both artwork and artists. Also, art at this time had a very distinct style.
"The Renaissance patrons wanted art that showed joy in human beauty and life’s pleasures." (source)
Renaissance art was used to portray beauty and is known as life-like Medieval art. The artists at this time were also known to observe perspective. They noticed the different levels, plains, and things like that. When the artists would reflect that on to a canvas, it seems to give the pictures depth. This style was first started by an artist from Florence. His name was Giotto.
One other distinction in art of this time is the mannerisms of the characters painted. They were painted in odd or distinct poses. This caused that figure to be the entire center of the piece. Also, most pieces seemed to have a religious or spiritual aspect to them.
For this reason, churches were the main galleries for art pieces. The church used them to display characteristics such as emotion or passion. (source) Also, in churches, we see alot of Gothic style architecture. Large, grand cathedrals and buildings. They also had certain types of columns they'd use. They would also use pilasters.
We see some of these styles in paintings done today. Also, in modern architecture, some of these styles are recreated. All of these ideas are passed down through time and modified slightly to fit the time period. Even Renaissance art had it's own unique beginning, just as the style before it.