UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA

ENGINEERING THE RENAISSANCE:

AN INTRODUCTION TO EARLY MODERN INNOVATION

IDH2931 Section 1B52

GET3930 Section 04D5

MEM3931 Section 1B49

 

INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION:

Instructor:       Dr. Will Hasty	Dr. Mark Law
Office:             263 Dauer	342 Infirmary
Office Hours:  Wednesdays 4th and 5th periods, or by appt.	Office hours:   By Appointment
E‑Mail:            hasty@ufl.edu	E-mail: mlaw@ufl.edu

 

COURSE INFORMATION:

Time & Location

Pugh Hall 120

Tuesday Period 8 (3:00 PM - 3:50 PM)

Thursday Period 8-9 (3:00 PM - 4:55 PM)

 

Description and Objectives:

This course will introduce students to pivotal moments in technological innovation and the physics underlying those changes in the Renaissance and the cultural history leading to and following from it. The course aims to provide students with an understanding of the ideals and practical exigencies that motivated engineers and artists to transform their communities, through the application of scientific, economic, social, and practical knowledge. The course will introduce some of the challenges of materials, physical knowledge, construction techniques, and societal pressures that medieval and renaissance engineers faced. Students will study problems associated with such innovation. The aim of such study will be to link the problems of the past with the modern search for more and more effective solutions.

Students will gain hands-on knowledge by constructing models of some of the examples from class and will be introduced to topics like force, work, and energy. As such students will acquire the ability to work in groups to create, imagine, design, realize and recreate key engineering achievements that moved the Western world from antiquity to modernity, all rooted in an accessible exploration of key physics principles.

Students will also learn to recognize and articulate how certain developments in European economic systems, military institutions, spirituality and esthetics affected technological progress in the medieval and early modern period. We will also discuss how this case study of Renaissance physics informs modern innovations of these technologies.

 

Course Materials and Resources (to which others may be added as necessary):

Cathedral, Forge, and Waterwheel: Technology and Invention in the Middle Ages, Frances and Joseph Gies, Harper Perennial Press, ISBN 0-06-016590-1, 1995;

A World Lit Only by Fire, William Manchester;

A variety of original sources indicated in the specific daily assignments.

Visit to St. Peter’s Basilica: http://www.vatican.va/various/basiliche/san_pietro/vr_tour/index-en.html (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.

Visit to the Leaning Tower of Pisa: http://www.airpano.com/360Degree-VirtualTour.php?3D=Pisa-Tuscany-Central-Italy (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.

Visit to the Cathedral of Florence: http://www.panoramicearth.com/5380/Florence/Florence_Cathedral (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.

Tower of London: http://www.londononline.co.uk/towerguide/Intro/ (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.

Chartres Cathedral: http://gallery.sjsu.edu/chartres/home.html (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.

Windmills of Holland: http://www.holland.com/global/tourism/article/dutch-windmills.htm (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.

Assessment:

Presentation (25%): Students will research and present to the class on a topic covered in the course

Group Projects: (25%) Students will select, organize, and present their projects in groups. Besides the three major projects, there will be other brief one-day minor projects connected to relevant readings/video material.

Participation: (20%) This will demonstrate a careful reading of and willingness to apply your understanding of the different texts in class discussions. Cross-referencing between different readings and the physical principles you are learning about is strongly encouraged.

Writings (30%): Individual writing assignments  involve the development of a model or “cultural app” (in traditional humanistic nomenclature: “interpretative approach”) that brings together and applies your understanding of the different readings (Gies, Manchester, King, etc.) in a beautiful and compelling way to cultural history.  20% for 5 Writing Assignments based on the readings and  10% based on the “cultural app” that you develop based on Gies, Manchester, and King.

 (To be adapted as necessary based on possible time constraints.)

 

Week 1

August 22: Introduction, Siege Engine Project Description and Constraints, Examples. Song of the Day – Welcome to the Renaissance (Something Rotten)

August 24:  Discussion of today’s reading assignments: Book of Genesis (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. (excerpts to be announced); Gies, chapter 1: “Nimrod’s Tower; Noah’s Arc” (pp.1-16) and chapter 2: “The Triumphs and Failures of Ancient Technologies” (pp.17-38); discussion of ancient and medieval artistry to be announced. Complete Writing Assignment #1.

Song of the Day – Tower of Babel, Elton John (Capt Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy)

 

Week 2

August 29: Siege Engine materials distributed, simple machines, mechanical advantage

Song of the Day – We’re Knights of the Round Table (Monty Python)

August 31: Lecture: Agriculture - three field system, plows, and milling; discussion of today’s reading assignments: St. Augustine, De Doctrina Christiana (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. (On Christian Doctrine) (excerpts to be announced); Gies, chapter 3: “The Not-so-Dark Ages” (pp. 39-81); Manchester, chapter 1: “The Medieval Mind” (pp.1-28); discussion of ancient and medieval artistry to be announced. Complete Writing Assignment #2.

Song of the Day – She Thinks My Tractor’s Sexy (Kenny Chesney) Agricultural Video

 

Week 3

September 5: Siege Engine Plans due – offense v. defense – plate armor, knights, horses, pikes, and arrows (bow, longbow, crossbow), Evolution of tactics - Hasting  v. Crecy

http://www.bayeuxtapestry.org.uk/  Has some activities that could be great for Project 3...

Love is a battlefield: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGVZOLV9SPo

September 7: Discussion of today’s reading assignments: Einhard, Vita Caroli Magni  (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. (The Life of Charlemagne); the Lay of Hildebrand (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.; Gies, chapter 4: “The Asian Connection” (pp. 82-104); Manchester, chapter 2: “The Shattering” (pp. 31-219); discussion of medieval artistry to be announced. Complete Writing Assignment #3. Warfare Video

Song(s) of the Day:

One Tin Soldier: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTBx-hHf4BE

 

 

Week 4

September 12: Mini-project - music and information theory,

Song(s) of the Day – Doe a Deer (Sound of Music)

I write the Songs:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sKV0kTLPWBw

September 14: Discussion of today’s reading assignments:

Arthurian Romance: Marie de France, Lay of Lanval (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.; Chrétien de Troyes, Erec and Enide (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site..

Gies, chapter 5: “The Technology of the Commercial Revolution” (pp.105-165); Manchester, chapter 2: “The Shattering” (pp. 31-219); discussion of medieval artistry to be announced. Complete Writing Assignment #4.

Song of the Day – If Ever I would leave you (Camelot)

You’re beautiful: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oofSnsGkops (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.

 

 Week 5

 September 19: The Plague!  Plague Game, Odds, Manpower,

 Song of the Day – Black Death (Something Rotten)

This is the End (The Doors): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSUIQgEVDM4

September 21: Discussion of today’s reading assignments: Arthurian Romance: Chrétien de Troyes, Erec and Enide (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.. (continued); Gies, chapter 5: “The Technology of the Commercial Revolution” (pp.105-165); Manchester, chapter 2: “The Shattering” (pp. 31-219); discussion of medieval artistry to be announced. Complete Writing Assignment #5.

 Week 6

 September 26: Presentation of Siege Engines Project.

 Song of the Day – Hit Me with Your Best Shot (Pat Benatar)

September 28: Finish project presentations; Lecture: Textiles as text, wealth creation; discussion of today’s reading assignments: Dante, Vita Nuova (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. (excerpts to be announced); Gies, chapter 5: “The Technology of the Commercial Revolution” (pp.105-165); Manchester, chapter 2: “The Shattering” (pp. 31-219); discussion of Renaissance artistry to be announced. Complete Writing Assignment #6. Textiles Video

Bayeaux Tapestry Song of the Day – Tapestry (Carole King)

For the Vita Nuova”: Burning Love: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zf2VYAtqRe0 (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.

Week 7

October 3: Cathedral project assignment, materials distributed. Mini project – drop spindle

How to Spindle - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKAJTKvl0nE

Song of the Day – Spinning Wheel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mnw-dQC5N-8

October 5: Discussion of today’s reading assignments: Jacob Burckhardt, The Civilization of the Renaissance in Italy (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. (excerpts to be announced); Gies, chapter 6: “The High Middle Ages” (pp.166-236); Manchester, chapter 2: “The Shattering” (pp. 31-219); discussion of Renaissance artistry to be announced. Complete Writing Assignment #7.

 

Week 8

October 10: Mini-project weaving and the loom

Setting Up a loom:
How To Set Up A Standard Loom For Weaving
Using a loom:
How To Weave On A Traditional Loom
Preparing a Shuttle:
How To Prepare A Shuttle For Weaving

Song of the Day:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZKuzwPOefs

October 12: Discussion of today’s reading assignments: Ross King, Brunelleschi’s Dome: How a Renaissance Genius Reinvented Architecture; Gies, chapter 6: “The High Middle Ages” (pp.166-236); Manchester, chapter 2: “The Shattering” (pp. 31-219); discussion of Renaissance artistry to be announced. Complete Writing Assignment #8.

Week 9

October 17: Mini project, mechanical advantage – lifting stones to great height for construction of castles / cathedrals

Song of the Day – Defying Gravity (Wicked)

October 19: Discussion of today’s reading assignments: Ross King, Brunelleschi’s Dome: How a Renaissance Genius Reinvented Architecture; Gies, chapter 6: “The High Middle Ages” (pp.166-236); Manchester, chapter 2: “The Shattering” (pp. 31-219); discussion of Renaissance artistry to be announced. Complete Writing Assignment #9.

 

Week 10

October 24: Presentation of Cathedral Project due today. Cathedral Research Papers due today.

Song of the Day Cathedral (Crosby, Stills and Nash)

October 26: Discussion of today’s reading assignments: Niccolo Machiavelli, Il Principe (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. (The Prince) (excerpts to be announced); Gies, chapter 6: “The High Middle Ages” (pp.166-236); Manchester, chapter 2: “The Shattering” (pp. 31-219); discussion of Renaissance artistry to be announced. Complete Writing Assignment #10.

 

Week 12

October 31: Follow-up discussions; group work; by today: inform Drs. Law and Hasty about the topic of your third group project (see November 16 below); discussion of reading and video: From Sir Thomas Malory’s Morte Darthur: How Arthur by the mean of Merlin gat Excalibur his sword of the Lady of the Lake (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.; The Lady of the Lake in Monty Python’s Quest for the Holy Grail (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site..

 

Song of the Day: O fortuna: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3cXcS49D64 (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.

 November 2: Discussion of today’s reading assignments: Niccolo Machiavelli, Il Principe (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. (The Prince); discussion of Video: Who’s afraid of Machiavelli? (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.; Gies, chapter 6: “The High Middle Ages” (pp.166-236); Manchester, chapter 2: “The Shattering” (pp. 31-219); discussion of Renaissance artistry to be announced. Complete Writing Assignment #11.

 

 Week 13

November 7: Gutenberg Press, Mini-project, printing and the illuminated manuscript.  The Book of Kells

Movable Type:
Casting Metal Type

 

Gutenberg Press:
Printing on a Gutenberg Press

 

November 9: Discussion of today’s reading assignments: Martin Luther, Letter to the Medici Pope Leo X; Leo On the Freedom of a Christian (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. (excerpts to be announced); Gies, chapter 7: “Leonardo and Columbus” (pp. 237-291); Manchester, chapter 3: “One Man Alone” (pp. 221-291); discussion of Renaissance artistry to be announced. Complete Writing Assignment #12.

Song of the Day: Freedom : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LlY90lG_Fuw (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.

Week 14

November 14: Discussion of final reading assignments: Martin Luther, Open Letter on Translating (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.; Gies, chapter 7: “Leonardo and Columbus” (pp. 237-291); Manchester, chapter 3: “One Man Alone” (pp. 221-291); discussion of Renaissance artistry to be announced.

Song of the Day (for exploration): Calypso: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2qf1nKhub4

November 16: Presentation of Third Group Project. Possible Topics: Making thread with drop spindle; weaving a garment or a tapestry; printing with “block prints” on some kind of surface employing some kind of device/mechanics of your creation; music, math, and underpinnings of communication theory; power - How do you get a 500lb stone up a 40-foot wall?  

Song of the day (for printing press): Blank Space: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-ORhEE9VVg (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.

Week 15

November 21:  No class today. Online assignment:  Upload your  “cultural app” narrative based on Gies, Manchester, and Ross (two-three pages double-spaced typescript) to the course discussion board; cast your vote for best “cultural app”-narrative by midnight November 27. 

November 23:   Thanksgiving Holiday

 

Week 16

November 28: Announcement of win, place, and show in the “best cultural app” contest; student Final Presentations.

Song of the Day:  Simply the Best: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNU3aIJs88g

November 30: Student Final Presentations.

 

Week 17

December 5: Student Celebration.