Grace+L

__ **Primary Source Unit 5** __ __ The Macintosh Computer __ For my primary source I chose the first Macintosh Computer, introduced in 1984 by Steve Jobs. I chose this because Apple is probably one of the most influential companies in our lives today. The new iPod, iPhone and Computers are a staple in today's society and this picture portrays the beginning of our society. Our education, as well as our social lives, are also impacted by the introduction of the Macintosh. Multiple times in each class, like this assignment, we are asked to do something that involves a computer and many things dealing with school has now become virtual. Without the invention of Apple and Macintosh, it's hard to know if our society would be the same as it is now. __ **Primary Source Unit 4** __ __ Harpsichord __ Here is a typical instrument of this time period: the harpsichord. I chose this because it really represents how art and music changed during The Enlightenment. Before this, art was usually darker but with the Enlightenment and introduction of humanism, art started to lean towards a lighter and more elaborate direction. You can see on this harpsichord that there are extravagant decorations with lighter colored paintings that resembled happier feelings. The harpsichord also reflects this happiness because the sound of a harpsichord is much lighter and much different then your normal piano. This piece is a great example of extravagance that was brought to the Enlightenment.

__ **Primary Source Unit** 3 __ __ Russian Vodka __ Since we learned about Russia in Unit 3 I thought it only necessary to choose vodka as my primary source. I chose vodka as my primary source because it has definitely been a major factor in Russian culture as well as a common symbol of the Russian identity. There is no certain beginning of vodka but it is thought to have come from sometime during the 8th or 9th centuries. Even today the "vodka belt" consists mainly of Russia, Sweden and Poland. With an alcohol content of 40% volume, vodka has held a great presence in Russian history. Great leaders like Peter the Great were avid vodka drinkers. Peter the Great had Petersburg built along many other great accomplishments. Imagine what would be different if he had/hadn't been drinking vodka. When he went on eight day drinking streaks he even had cardinals join him. Today vodka still holds an importance to the Russian identity, good or bad.

__Heraclitus__ Here you see Heraclitus from the famous painting School of Athens. I chose this guy because he is all by himself and he looks very depressed or deep in thought. He also seems to be writing something down. Perhaps he is expressing his feelings about the meeting or his thoughts on the world. Since he is writing words on paper we can tell that there was a big step up of smartness from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance. In the painting it seems that all of the scholars are very knowledgable which is quite different than the scholars during the Middle Ages. Heraclitus himself was important to the Renaissance because of his thoughts on Humanism. He came up with the philosophy of the unity of opposites which states that all existing things are characterized by their opposite pair. One of his famous sayings is "Knowing many things does not teach insight" -Heraclitus. Heraclitus was known by many as the dark philosopher which is probably the reason why he was depicted as lonely and grumpy in the painting. I think the School of Athens should have included artists like Michelangelo and Leonardo Da Vinci because they should surely be counted as scholars as both were incredible artists and in Da Vinci's case, a mastermind. Funny you mention it....Heraclitus is thought to be resembling Michelangelo here and Plato is thought to be Leonardo. -SW
 * School of Athens **



__Gold Alloy Bracelet from the Mongols__
 * Primary Source Unit 2 **

This is a gold alloy bracelet that was found in the Mongol's capitol Khara Khorum. I picked this primary source because it shows us as historians how the Mongols were not only good warriors but also artists. This bracelet dates back to the 13th century, which is roughly around when Kubilai Khan was the great ruler. While he was ruler the Mongol Empire covered most of central Asia and China. Like many leaders before him, Kubilai Khan liked to spare and "adopt" artists and scholars from the places he conquered. So this makes me think, is this bracelet an original art form unique to the Mongols or were there outside influences like China or Islamic artwork from the West. Did the Mongols have any artistic culture before they were united as an empire? On the cuff there is a depiction of a phoenix fringed with demons, which perhaps gives us a look at what kind of religion they had. Many Mongols were Islam, Buddhism or Confucianism but others believed in a sort of natural polytheism. This made me wonder if the phoenix represented one of their gods. Or maybe the phoenix is a symbol for rebirth? Also it makes me question if the demons are common in other pieces of Mongol art. Do they think of their life as filled with demons or filled with goodness? Whichever way the engravings are perceived as to be, it could easily represent the religious aspect of their diverse community Although the Mongols' reputation lies with their military, there is a surprising culture to the Mongols that is different than many other Empires in history. This bracelet shows how artistic and perhaps religious the Mongols were as an empire originally marked as savage.

Great job, this piece of art does really give historians an insight to what Mongol life was really like, do you think that this jewelry was a rare item, or did many Mongols possess similar pieces? -HB

__Augustus of Prima Porta__
 * Primary Source Unit 1 **

Augustus of Prima Porta is a Roman statue created during the Roman Empire for the first emperor; Augustus. I chose this as my primary source because I wonder if the citizens of the Roman empire truly liked Augustus or not. I feel that if somebody took the time to make you a fantastic statue of yourself with a random baby included you were probably admired. Did the people actually love him or was this statue a form of self-propaganda? Well the public probably liked him to some extent because of the 40 years of peace and prosperity he brought to the empire. Augustus of Prima Porta was given to Augustus in 20 BCE seven years into his reign, it was given to him by the Senate. Because it was given to him as a present by the Senate he was most likely looked up to. Or was this a present to keep the emperor in a good mood as opposed to a tyrannical one? The clothing of Augustus also might tell us something about the Roman empire. He appears to be wearing some very intricate armor. As we know, Augustus brought 40 years of peace to the empire so that probably explains why someone had the time to carve gods and pictures on his breast plate. After looking it up I found that the carvings on his breast plate are gods. The artist carved these gods with propaganda in mind to tell the people of Rome "the gods are on Augustus' side". I also think that his foot half raised shows that he is taking a step forward-a step forward for the Roman empire. Whether or not the people liked Augustus he brought peace for Rome and started the great empire that would last another 500-ish years.

Hello Grace, I most certainly agree with you when you say that Augustus is portrayed as a god like figure. His right arm is extended as though he is pointing to a subject of surveying his mighty empire. Plus, his body is open and facing us, indicating that he is powerful. I also noticed two very interesting aspects of this statue. Notice the detail that is put into Augustus's clothes. His armor it elaborately designed, and his robe is draped gracefully over his arm. This shows the work that the artist put into this piece and therefore, its high value and importance. In my opinion, the most interesting aspect of this sculpture is the small human hanging off of Augustus's garment. It reminds me of a small child hanging onto their mother. However, unlike a mother, Augustus looks as though he doesn't even notice this small human. This only adds to the feeling of immense power that this statue portrays. -Leah Mortimer

It is pretty interesting to think if the people actually agreed with him and liked him. I'm sure there are very few account of people disagreeing with him though because back then I'm sure you'd get killed if you spoke out. But think about what the statue represents in a sense. In my opinion it shows the will and power of him that was thought to be true of him at this time. The people back then probably did idolized him and that's probably why they didn't speak out. But it is pretty funny, the baby holding onto him. Maybe it shows that people DID actually want to be with him every step of the way? -Sam Nunez

// "No one can know how many oracle bones, prior to 1899, were ground up by traditional Chinese pharmacies and disappeared into peoples' stomachs." - //Xu Yahui
 * Oracle Bones Class Starter**

Dating back to 1200 BCE, the oracle bones were Ancient China’s first written documents. Oracle bones were typically made of bone or shell and were used as a way of divination (receiving answers and insight through a ritual). A diviner would inscribe a question into the bone or shell and then heat the oracle bone with a metal rod until it split with cracks. The diviner would then interpret the fracture lines to find the answer and write it down on the same bone. Generally, questions that were asked regarded the weather, crops or the royal family.

It is believed that throughout the Han Dynasty farmers continually unearthed these oracle bones; but, since they didn’t know what they were, they reburied them. Later on, during the 19th century, Chinese villagers found the oracle bones again but this time they ground them up and used them as medicine. Turtle shells were used to treat malaria and animal bones for wounds. In 1899 antique dealers came across some oracle bones and they gave them to a Chinese politician and scholar, Wang Yirong. Yirong is believed to be the first person to recognize the markings on the bones.

The oracle bones have been dated to 1200-1050 BCE. They started in the middle of Shang Dynasty and evidence shows that they were used in the Zhou Dynasty for a very short period of time. Before the oracle bones were found and deciphered, historians and scholars doubted the existence of the Shang Dynasty but certain bones asking questions about the royal family proved there really was a Shang Dynasty.

Excavated pit in Anyang Yinxu

Oracle bone kept in Cambridge University's Library

This bone asks if there will be any bad luck in the next ten days