Worst Jobs In History

I think that the worst job in middle ages history is to be a leech collector.  When there was no cure for illness people would have the leeches suck their blood.  It was said that while the leech drained the blood that the disease would leave.  The leech collectors would walk to the marsh and stir up the water in order to catch the worm.  Then they would take the leeches back to town for the people who were sick.  I think that this a terrible job because you would constantly have leeches stuck to your body!  What if the leech was carrying bacteria that made someone even more sick?  I would think this job is really unsanitary.  I wonder who would ever choose this job!  Honestly, I don't you could pay me enough money to collect a blood-sucking worm.

Story Book Project

http://storybird.com/books/the-trials-and-triumphs-of-daenaria-the-princess/

Partner- Erika Lipford

A Freshman Year to Remember

Amanda Spaeth walked through the doors of John Carroll feeling nervous and exited.  She knew it would it would be a year to remember.  At first John Carroll seemed liked a big maze, there was only one way in and out.  Many of Amanda's new teachers seemed intimidating by presenting her and her fellow classmates with new challenges.  Amanda felt compelled to excel in every class by giving it her all.  Over the course of the year, Amanda made new friends, read some Shakespeare, and met many new friends.  Her eyes were opened to the world during human geography and western civilization.  Amanda learned also learned the basics of the German language and continues to learn it until she graduates.  Memories were made in the joyful atmosphere of English class.  Science and math may not have been her strongest areas in school, but Amanda tried the best she could.  Religion class made Amanda think about how wonderful God is and all gifts he has given to the world.  Not only did she learn a lot, but Amanda played multiple sports this year.  Amanda ran cross country in the fall and ended up making varsity as a freshman.  She swam laps in the pool in the winter and made strides across the track this spring.  Amanda met a lot of people who have changed her life for the better.  Her teachers will always have a special place in her heart despite the insane projects she was assigned.  It was a year of fun, amazing freshman year full of achievements.  Amanda plans to continue her legacy at John Carroll… if she lives to pass final exams!       

Final Essay: The Culture of the Middle Ages

Question: Why is it so important to understand _ [i.e. the topic of your expert group] if one is to really understand the culture of the Middle Ages?

The Middle Ages was a time in history that introduced massive changes, especially when the Catholic Church was involved.  There were social changes, worldwide conflict, and an illness called the Bubonic Plague that killed millions.  Some leaders rose to high power and were looked up to, others went down in infamy.  There were brilliant philosophers for the Catholic Church and their teachings are still used today.  Some rebellions broke out and it was the start of reformation.  It is important to understand the culture of the Middle Ages because it features the philosophy and theology of Thomas Aquinas and how it influenced the Catholic Church.

The Middle Ages lasted from 1154 to 1485 AD.  “Although the Germanic tribes that forcibly migrated into southern and western Europe in the 5th century were ultimately converted to Christianity, they retained many of their customs and ways of life; the changes in forms of social organization they introduced rendered centralized government and cultural unity impossible.” (History Channel 1996-2011) There was a big conversion of Germanic tribes to the Catholic faith.  This movement was a prominent event during the Middle Ages.  This mean that the Catholic faith was continually spread throughout the known world.  Even after the Germanic tribes became a part of the Catholic Church, they still kept their culture alive by respecting the ancient rituals.

Philosophy was also very important to the culture especially regarding religion. “The greatest work of Thomas was the Summa, and it is the fullest presentation of his views.”  (Thomas Aquinas, 2009) Saint Thomas Aquinas was a great thinker for the Catholic Church.  He had many new insights to contribute to the church.  His most important writings were about God and how to conduct a relationship with him.  He blended Greek philosophy and the church doctrine to form his theories.  Even today, Thomas Aquinas’s writings still have an impact on the church.

Towards the late Middle Ages, the church faced a lot of hardships.  “The church and its leading institution, the papacy, like the monarchy so strong in the 12th and early 13th centuries, also became weak and disorganized in the later Middle Ages.”  The church went through many years of difficult changes and decisions in order to organize its system.  The Catholic faith went through a huge reform in order to please the members of the church.  Unfortunately, some important faces of the church decided to break away and form different faiths the way they thought things should be preached.  The church was still a stronghold for many, but some found it hard to the faith while the papacy was falling apart at the seams.  

The Catholic faith became very popular during Middle Ages because it was a part of almost every person’s life.  The philosophers of the Catholic Church had a huge impact because they expressed their opinions of the teachings of the popes and bishops.  Thomas Aquinas was a major figure for the church because his views on the doctrine were different and foreign to Catholics.  The early Middle Ages had one of the biggest impacts on the church because of the rapid spread of the faith because it was a legal religious practice.

Works Cited

The middle ages. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.history.com/topics/middle-ages 

Overview: the middle ages. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/middle_ages/overview_middleages_01.shtml

Thomas aquinas. (2009). Retrieved from http://www.iep.utm.edu/aquinas/

Rough Draft Essay: The Culture of the Middle Ages

The Middle Ages were a time in history that introduced massive changes, especially involving the Catholic Church.  There were social changes, worldwide conflict, and an illness that killed millions.  Some leaders rose to high power and were looked up to, others went down in infamy.  Hostility between countries started wars that lasted for years and some it also resulted in the conquering of land.  Rebellions broke out and it was the start of reformation.  People do not need to understand the culture of the Middle Ages.  It is important to understand the culture of the Middle Ages because it features the philosophy and theology of Thomas Aquinas and how it influenced the Catholic Church.

The Middle Ages lasted from 1154 to 1485 AD.  “Although the Germanic tribes that forcibly migrated into southern and western Europe in the 5th century were ultimately converted to Christianity, they retained many of their customs and ways of life; the changes in forms of social organization they introduced rendered centralized government and cultural unity impossible.” (History Channel 1996-2011) There was a big conversion of Germanic tribes to the Catholic faith.  This movement was a prominent event during the Middle Ages.  The Catholic faith was continually spread throughout the known world.  Even after the Germanic tribes became members of the Catholic Church, they still kept their culture alive by respecting the ancient rituals.

Philosophy was also very important to the culture especially regarding religion. “The greatest work of Thomas was the Summa, and it is the fullest presentation of his views.”  (Thomas Aquinas, 2009) Saint Thomas Aquinas was a great thinker for the Catholic Church.  He had many new insights to contribute to the church.  His most important writings were about God and how to conduct a relationship with him.  Even today, Thomas Aquinas’s writings still have an impact on the church.

During the late Middle Ages, the church faced a lot of hardships.  “The church and its leading institution, the papacy, like the monarchy so strong in the 12th and early 13th centuries, also became weak and disorganised in the later Middle Ages.”  The church went through many years of difficult changes and decisions in order to organize the system.  The church went through a huge reform in order to please the members of the church.  Unfortunately, some people of the church decided to break away and form different faiths.  Even through hard times, the church was still a stronghold for many.

It was important to understand that the Catholic Church was popular during Middle Ages because it was a part of almost every person’s life.  The philosophers of the Catholic Church had a huge impact because they refined the teachings of the popes and bishops.  Thomas Aquinas was a major figure for the church because he expressed his views on the way Catholics should conduct their lives.  The early Middle Ages caused the conversion of the Catholic Church to soar and influence the culture into a holy state.

Works Cited

The middle ages. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.history.com/topics/middle-ages

Overview: the middle ages. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/middle_ages/overview_middleages_01.shtml

Thomas aquinas. (2009). Retrieved from http://www.iep.utm.edu/aquinas/

Final Essay: Romanesque VS. Gothic Architecture

Architecture has always been a major form of art.  It has been used to express culture and wealth of a society.  The Romanesque architecture was represented as protective and sturdy to withstand any attack.  Gothic architecture was shed a new light on the world, especially when it came to expressing art through the Catholic Church.  The structures were beautifully made and offered the light to be shared. The spread of Christianity had an influence on the world, especially on Romanesque and Gothic architecture; it expresses how the people preached and prayed to God.

Romanesque architecture started around the ninth century and ended during the eleventh century.  The structures were designed to keep people safe and in solitude during prayer.  The thick walls drove unwanted forces away and gave the people inside a sense of comfort.  The Gothic walls were designed to be thinner, so windows could be built and allowed light to shine.  Figure 1, the St. George rotunde, is an example of the sturdy, thick walls that kept the people inside its walls sheltered.  Figure 2, St. Denis Chorumgang, is an example of the change in structure of the cathedrals.  The stain glass windows and columns were new and added beauty to the house of worship.  Romanesque churches did not have windows on the first floor because there was a risk of people invading. The people who prayed within the walls were looking for confinement.  The change in design of the cathedrals allowed more light to shine on those who prayed to the Lord.  During the eleventh century, a large number of churches increased all across Europe, and that was the start of the new idea to put more time and effort into building a holy place for worship.

As Europe began its reformation, more money was available.  Figure 3 (St. Andrew's Church) was built during the Romanesque period and was mainly composed of brick and wood.  Figure 4 (Cathédrale de Reims) can be viewed as looking very detailed and expensive.  The stain glass windows were a new addition because the church had a bigger budget.  The columns support the ceiling and arches.  The walls are visibly thinner unlike the Romanesque church.  The brick walls of St. Andrews offered tended to those who wanted to pray by eliminating the outside world.  The Gothic cathedrals represented the change in the economic situation and allowed more opportunities for the church to improve their houses dedicated to God.

The spread of Christianity soon overtook Europe and polytheism was soon forgotten.  After the Catholic Church was established by Jesus Christ, more people wanted to learn more about God.  The church was the center of the community where everyone came together for a common purpose.  The Maria Lach (figure5) is a more detailed Romanesque church that was later designed for more space for the congregation of the church.  The Notre Dame Cathedral (figure 6) shows that the church had grown far and wide and more people were seeking to worship the Lord in a holy, sacred place.  Each cathedral drew the community grew people closer together.  The bishop ordered the construction of Notre Dame in the mid eleventh century, but it took decades to build.  Still standing today, the church draws people far and wide to admire its beauty.  Every church has a common purpose and is used daily.

In conclusion, churches have been around for centuries but the design of each one is different.  The Romanesque churches were built with thick to keep enemies out and were a place of solitude.  The Gothic cathedrals were beautifully crafted and let the light of God shine into the church.  A modern example of how Gothic architecture still has an impact on the world is the Loyola University chapel in Baltimore.  Art has evolved and changed for the Catholic Church, but the love for God remains the same.

Appendix

Figure #1-Saint George, rotude http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rotunde-of-St.-George-at-Rip.jpeg , photograph take June 8, 2005

Figure #2- St. Denis Chorumgang, interior, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:StDenis_Chorumgang.JPG, photograph taken April 29, 2005

Figure #3-St. Andrew's church, façade, http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:St._Andrew%27s_church_facade_(Krak%C3%B3w,_Poland).jpg , photograph taken April 7, 2006 

Figure #4-Cathedrale de Reims, interior, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Cath%C3%A9drale_de_Reims_int%C3%A9rieur.jpg, photograph taken March 18, 2007 

Figure #5-Maria Lach, cathedral http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Maria_Lach_02.jpg, photograph taken April 28, 2008

Figure #6-Notre Dame, cathedral http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:060806-France-Paris-Notre_Dame.jpg, photograph taken August 6, 2006

Rough Draft Essay: Roman VS. Gothic Architecture

Architecture has always been a major form of art.  It has been used to express culture and wealth of a society.  The Romanesque architecture was represented as solitude for prayer and protection.  Gothic architecture was shed a new light on the world.  The structures were beautifully made and offered the light to be shared.  Roman and Gothic architecture can be viewed a revolutions in building and art.  The spread of Christianity had an influence on the world, especially on Roman and Gothic architecture; it expresses how the people preached and prayed to God.

Romanesque architecture started around the ninth century and ended during the eleventh century.  The structures were designed to keep people safe and in solitude.  The thick walls drove unwanted forces away and gave the people inside a sense of solitude.  The Gothic walls were designed to be thinner, so windows could be built.  Figure 1 is an example of the sturdy, thick walls that kept the people inside its walls safe.  Figure 2 is an example of the change in the structure of the cathedral and allows sunlight to shine within the building.  Romanesque churches did not have windows on the first floor because there was a risk of people invading and the people who prayed were looking for confinement.  The Gothic cathedrals, however, had special stain glass window designs and the walls were thinner in order to install them.  This change in the looks of churches allowed more light to shine on those who prayed to the Lord.  During the eleventh century, a large number of churches in creased all across Europe, and that was the start of the new idea to put more time and effort into building a holy place for worship.

As Europe began its reformation, more money was available.  Figure 3 was built during the Romanesque period and was mainly composed of brick and wood.  Figure 4 can be viewed as looking very detailed and expensive.  The stain glass windows represent God’s light shining down upon his people.  The columns support the ceiling and arches.  The walls are visibly thinner unlike the Romanesque church.  The brick walls offered safety for those who wanted to reflect and pray eliminating the outside world.  The Gothic cathedrals represented the change in the economic situation and allowed more opportunities for the church to improve their churches.

The spread of Christianity soon overtook Europe and polytheism was soon forgotten.  One the Catholic Church was established by Jesus Christ, more people wanted to learn more about God.  The church was the center of the community where everyone came together for a common purpose.  Figure 5 is a more detailed Romanesque church that was later designed for more space for the congregation of the church.  Figure 6 shows that the church had grown far and wide and more people were seeking to worship the Lord in the holiest, sacred place.  Each cathedral drew the community close and grew people closer together.  The bishop order the construction of Notre Dame in the mid eleventh century, but it took years to build.  Still standing today, the church draws people far and wide to admire its beauty.  Every church is meant to be a place to worship God and learn from his teachings.

In conclusion, every church was built for a common purpose but had different design and architectural structure.  The Romanesque churches were sturdy, thick, and were a place of solitude.  The Gothic cathedrals were beautifully crafted and let the light of God shine into the church.  A modern example of how Gothic architecture still has an impact on the world is the Loyola University chapel.  Art has evolved and changed for the Catholic church, but the love for God remains the same. 

1. Figure #1-rotude of Saint George,  http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rotunde-of-St.-George-at-Rip.jpeg
2. Figure #2- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:StDenis_Chorumgang.JPG
3. Figure #3- http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:St._Andrew%27s_church_facade_(Krak%C3%B3w,_Poland).jpg
4. Figure #4- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Cath%C3%A9drale_de_Reims_int%C3%A9rieur.jpg

5. Figure #5- http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Maria_Lach_02.jpg

6. Figure #6- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:060806-France-Paris-Notre_Dame.jpg