Italian Renaissance

The Period:

As we had learned in class, the Renaissance is a time of "revival", new ideas and points of view were being spread across Europe. Most relate-able to our discipline however, was the new focus towards design; focusing less on the construction of grand churches, and more of a focus on residential dwellings.

Starting in Florence and Italy, the Renaissance began to really flourish with the help of some brilliant minds.

Martin Luther for example, challenged the Roman Catholic church and thus created a new form of thinking. People began to recognize the faults of the church and a newer focus on the gospel began.

Martin Luther

Humanism, or a "focus on critical thinking" began to really take prevalence. 

Earth changing inventions such as the Printing Press were being created, starting a booming spread of knowledge among people of the time.

Johannes Gutenberg, Inventor of the Printing Press

  

Thinkers, such as Brunelleschi and Da Vinci played a vital role in the study and practice of architecture and design.

Brunelleschi, the discoverer of perspective drawing and brilliant architect.

  

Da Vinci, Known for beign somewhat a mast in many trades, "The Renaissance Man".

Known for his skilled work as a painter, sculptor, architect, musician, mathmetician, engineer, inventor, anatomist, geologist, cartographer, botanist, and writer.  

  

The Now

 

 

The Americas

The Olmecs:

Living in the south central lowlands of modern Mexico, the Olmec people are considered the first major civilization to populate the region. Known for their Colossal Head Statues, Mesoamerican Ballgame, and bloodletting rituals, The Olmec nation laid the ground work for many civilizations to come

 

The Heads

 

Dating as far back as 900 BC, the Olmec Colossal heads are a remarkable example of this periods resourcefulness and audacity. Weighing in anywhere from 6 to 50 tons, these basalt boulders rest relatively unmarked, if not moved from their original location.

 

Spread across San Lorenzo, La Venta, and other Olmec sights, a total of 17 heads have been discovered, with many fragments and the possibility of more to be found.

All examples that have been found depict flat nosed, fleshy cheeked men that were most  likely rulers at some point; a portrait to their recently deceased leader.

The most interesting thing however is that the backs of all of the heads are flat, most likely to be placed against a wall at some point.

The Game:

The Olmecs are accredited with being the creators of the ancient ball game that can be seen throughout all of the Mesoamerican civilizations.

Their are no records to detail the exact rules of the game, however, it is believed that the primary goal was to keep the ball in play.

The most common portrayal of the game involves the players bouncing the ball with their hips, however, use of rackets and other body parts in some versions has been seen before.


 

The courts, although differing greatly in shape, are all masonry structures; created out of stone with large surfaces for the ball to bounce off of.

Over 1300 Mesoamerican ball courts have been discovered to date.

The Now: