Leonardo da Vinci

Leonardo (at left) was a key figure in the Renaissance. In lecture we discussed his use of perspective, blending and naturalism in such works as (from left to right)"The Last Supper," "Mona Lisa," and sketchbook. Indeed, compare these works with the medieval "peasant" painting in the earlier post.

Axum

Medieval Peasant Video

Terry Jones (previously of Monty Python's Traveling Circus) presents about a 23 minute look at the life of the Medieval peasant. His goal is to perhaps question some of the more popular assumptions about that age. Give it a look; we'll discuss it in lecture.
Terry Jones and the Medieval Peasant

Islam & Christianity in Africa

The link is to a relatively "basic" 28 minute video produced by a Lutheran group.

Jerusalem: A Center for Three Faiths

As we discussed in lecture, Jerusalem plays an important role in the historical narrative of the three great monotheistic faiths: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. In the left-hand column, click on "Jerusalem: Battle for the Holy Land (Paddy Ashdown)" Pay particular attention to the competing claims of the three faiths.
Paddy Ashdown's "Jeursalem: Battle for the Holy Land"

The Blue Mosque, Constantinople, and Istanbul

With the fall of Constantinople in 1453, the imperial capital immediately became an important center in the Muslim world. The images and links connect to views of the famous "Blue Mosque" whose design clearly owes a debt to the great Hagia Sophia.
Blue Mosque Video

Click any of the videos in the left-hand column for views of both the interior and exterior of the building.