COLLAGE...of fashion, vintage, and random pics I just L-O-V-E!

Yet ANOTHER Blog Critique.

BLOG 1: First, I chose to take a look at Tori's Blog...titled "History-What's Next?" It was very well done and extremely well organized. She had very good links as well as strong book sources, from what it seemed. Well done Tori!

BLOG 2: Now on to Hannah's Blog.... entitled "Blonde with a Brain." Her blog definately seemed to fit her personality...and it was very bright and cheery! She even threw in some of her own personal touches to it such as her own personal icon...which was cute and spunky. Her pictures that were on top of the written articles went along really well with what she had to say! I love her blog.

BLOG 3: Then, I ventured on over to Alyssa's Blog entitled "Alyssa Lane". It had a very contemporary feel to it and was very laid back, which was nice. It totally made it seem to me that this wasn't a blog for school, but rather LOOKED like it was something she wanted to do. All in all, her information and pictures really stood out to me as well, and it seemed like she knew what she was doing. Well Done for sure.

BLOG 4: Next I was off to check out Kristyn's Blog which is called "A Heavy Hearted Work of a Staggering Genius". It definately had some true pizzaz! (if that is how you spell it...) Anyways, her blog displayed lots of personality and was very cute. It had well organized information and seemed like a good hearty place for sources to history. Good Job KID!

BLOG 5: Last but certainly not least, I ventured on over to Caleb's Blog... which he called "Misunderstood Genius". The one thing that seperated his Blog from all others, was his many, many pictures that he used on it! I loved the fact that there were just so many darn pictures! It truly was amazing. Not to mention, his book sources were all in perfect array and order. Way to go Crazy Caleb!!!

The Birth of Venus

I think that my favorite piece of real Renaissance art has always been The Birth of Venus.

I have ALWAYS thought it was just the most beautiful painting of that time, and it really fascinates me. It, I think, would have needed someone to have a lot of imagination in oreder to create up such an image. This grand painting's artist was none other than Sandro Botticelli. Even though he may not have been among some of the most famous artists at the time of the great Renaissance, his paintings and pieces of artwork, sure show that he was brilliantly gifted and talented. This is evident especially in The Birth of Venus.

Some scholars claim that Botticelli got the inspiration for The Birth of Venus from some of the beautiful murals and frescoes painted in early Rome and the ancient city of Pompeii.

Even though this grand painting shows the goddess Venus, as being nude, the colors really bring the art to life. Sometimes lookin past the nudity in ancient sculptures and paintings, can provide an eye-opening view of how beautiful the human imagination can be as displayed within the artistic talent of the world.

The Birth of Venus is basically a painting consisting of, of course the Greek goddess Venus, standing in a beautiful clam shell, just arriving from her birth at the ocean. The goddesses, gods, and people around her are seen celebrating her arrival. This painting shows to me that there was beauty definately within the worshipping of these heathenistic and fictional god-like creatures.

Overall, I just admire the artist's use of communication from his mind to the canvas, and I think that The Birth of Venus is an all around beautiful work of Renaissance art.

Global Gazette-The year is...1517.

What on Earth was happening in the year 1517? Let's take a look...

• In January of 1517, specifically on the 22nd, the Battle of Ridanieh took place in history. The location was Egypt and the fighters were the Ottoman Turks vs. the Mamluk forces of Toumen Bay. It proved to be a vicious battle, and it ended brutally. The Mamluk sultan was hung over the entrance gate in Cairo.


• On Febrary 3rd of 1517, the event explained above led into further news history. The city of Cairo, Egypt was finally captured by the Ottoman Turks after the bloody battle. On the same day, in China, the first ever contact with western merchants began. This opened a highly used trade route.


• On August 15th 1517, a Portuguese merchant by the name of Firnao Pires de Andrade, met with Chinese officials at the Pearl River Estuary, of course accompanied by an interpreter,and successfully landed in Hong Kong.


• In October of the same year, on the same date as Halloween (the 31st), Martin Luther nails his 95 theses to the Castle Church door in Wittenberg, Germany....for ALL to see.


• Some infamous world leaders ruled during 1517, and they include: King Charles I of Aragon, Europe, Pope Leo X of the Papal States, King Henry VIII of England, and Johanna, Queen of Castile.


• In the year 1517, Corpus Christi College in Oxford, England was also established. As well as Le Havre, a city in Normandy (Norther France) being well established by Francis I of France. It still exists to this day and is located along the English Channel.

A lot of things continued to happen for years to come after 1517...

Luther and the Reformation.

Martin Luther was one of the most influential figures of the Renaissance. He is still often seen as one of the most important, if not THE most important, people of this early Catholic church era. He is probably best known as the starter of the Reformation to the church.

Luther may have been infamous for his "rebirthing" of the church at this time, but he was just an average joe who, one day, wanted to change the paganistic ways that the church had grown accustomed to abiding by. He took one look at the appalling behavior and really decided to take the matters into his own hands, no matter what length of measures that he needed to take.

Martin Luther started this radical change off by really giving this important issue some public notice. Since everyone residing in the village at the time of this Reformation's birth, went to church EVERY Sunday, Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the Church's door. This showed everyone who walked by and who entered the church that Martin Luther, the monk, was becoming an extreme leader, especially in recognizing the church's main problem.

A ton of people at the time did NOT agree with Luther in seeing the church's need for a change, and fought him on this, simultaneously denying the lack of sincerity within the church. Even the attenders and church clergy found Luther to be a "thorn-in-their-side".