1. Renaissance and Reformation.

This course is a direct match to the 1st chapter of the 1st section of the book, pages 12 to 15. I take it for granted that you have revised what happened in the Byzantine Empire ( and in the Fifth Grade as a whole) - otherwise you are building history without proper continuity and coherence. You will notice that I have added additional elements, and of course a map with the city - states of Italy ( the book has one in the introduction).
00:00 Introduction.
00:20 Historical Source.
00:42 1) The Dream of Rome returns to the West.
02:58 2) The Rebirth.
05:50 3) The Age of Doubt.
08:02 4) The Wars of Faith.
08:50 End Titles.
In this first sixth-grade lesson we are confronted with a colossal change of era as far as history is concerned. After centuries of darkness, the diffusion of knowledge from the East, the study of Greco-Roman culture and the climate of questioning, start the Renaissance era and scientific progress breaks away from the mire of the Middle Ages.
The turn of philosophy’s direction and the emergence of man as its new center reminds us of "man is the measure of all" of the pre-Socratic sophists and the current of relativism. And if relativism produces anything it is a challenge - against established "objective" truths. It is this questioning that will gradually give birth to the scientific method and the movement of rationalism, which will launch scientific progress.
The scientific method is still strong to this day, constantly leading us in the 20th and 21st centuries to advances and achievements unimaginable compared to the past. You may connect the skepticism with the introductory lessons of Physics which are busily employed in the scientific method.
Of course, questioning cannot ignore the role of power - that is why the path to representative democracy is being started. Students may wonder if this democracy would be the rebirth of Athenian democracy. We must remember the direct character of the latter and the indirect (through elections) of the former.
The Protestants were against the Catholic Church, disagreeing with the policy of indulgences which were sold for the completion of churches, with the infallibility of the Pope, with the domination of the Bible as the highest source ( to the extent of its literal application and interpretation even for certain doctrines). The main position of the Protestants is that beyond simple faith, benevolent action is also required for the forgiveness of sins, and that the Holy Bible should be read in the believer's native language, among other matters.
In the Renaissance also comes forth the new type of man, that curious collector of knowledge and budding scientist, who seeks answers in a wide range of objects. That ma is the Homo Universalis, " the Man of the Universal." We would say that this type of person, always engaged in many cognitive subjects, always curious, looks like some kind of person we know very well ... us, perhaps?!
You could ask students if the situation of Italy in the 15th to 17th centuries they see on the map reminds them of something. You may recall that a similar situation existed in Ancient Greece - did the Renaissance begin despite the separation of these states and the conflicts between them ... or... because of it?
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All photos and music are property of their respective owners.
This video is of academic purpose.
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This video is based on the Greek History books of the Fifth and Sixth Grade and serves primarily as an online lesson/revision for the students. It is, therefore, structured for that audience.