Friday, March 9, 2012

Google Earth Spanish/Aztec Inquiry Project


For this two weeklong inquiry project, we will be focusing on the geography of Spain as well as the area known as Mesa-America. Note all the colored text leads to external links. 

Working in groups of three, your task will be to create a Google Earth KMZ (what is this) file responding to the overall inquiry question:

How did geography, history, and contact with other groups affect the worldviews of the Spanish and the Mesa-American Aztecs?

Choosing either the Spanish or the Aztecs[1], each group member will be responsible for addressing one of the three areas above (i.e., geography, history, and contact with other groups) by working through a series of related tasks outlined below. As a group, you will then combine your work into a Google Earth KMZ file to provide a digital tour for others in the world to learn more about this topic.

Ultimately we will be creating a Google Lit trip to explore the worldview of the Spanish and Aztecs. To get a sense of what we are doing, here are some examples of the kind of product you will be creating: Pedro's Journal, American Civil War, various Voyages of Discovery (Pillage and Plunder). Check out the one on Hernan Cortes. Note that our project will look the most like this final one on Cortes with the exception that we will be making and imbedding videos into our tour. 

As part of this process each group member will be responding to one of the following inquiry questions:

Geography (partner 1): Which geographic feature of the Iberian Peninsula or the Valley of Mexico had the greatest influence on the Spanish or Aztec worldview? How did this geographic feature specifically influence the societies of the Aztec and the Spanish?

Starting point for you research in your Our Worldviews textbook
Aztecs: pp. 228-229, pp. 240-241; Spanish: pp. 230-231 
Satellite image of Mexico link
Satellite image of Spain link
Insights from Jared Diamond's Guns, Germs, and Steel thesis

History (partner 2): What historical event had the greatest influence on the Spanish or Aztec worldview? How did this historical event specifically shape the beliefs, values and later decisions and actions of the Aztec and the Spanish?

Starting point for you research in your Our Worldviews textbook
                        Aztecs, pp. 232-235; Spanish: pp. 236-239

Contact with other groups (partner 3): Which legacy of the Moors or the Toltec had the greatest influence on the Spanish or Aztec worldview? How did this legacy specifically shape the beliefs, values and later decisions and actions of the Aztec and the Spanish?

Starting point for you research in your Our Worldviews textbook
                       Aztecs, pp. 244-247; Spanish: pp. 242-243


Inquiry Tasks:

1a. Research: Using the Note-taking format document I sent out, after choosing which areas you will be focusing on, begin by writing down your question at the top of the document. Then go to the related textbook chapters and complete all sections of the document. This document asks you to define key terms, make connections to other things you have read or seen, ask questions and pursue further research,  along with identifying at least 7 images that correspond to what you are reading (please paste in the URL you got the image from).    Sections 1-5 are Due Friday, March 16th.

2. Isolating possible responses graphic organizer: Once you have completed your notes, fill out section 6 of the Note Taking Notebook which asks you to rank from 1-3 which elements were most important in shaping the worldview of the Spanish or the Aztec.  On the far right, base your justification in relation to the following set of criteria for historical significance (Historical Benchmarks Project):
  • Resulting in change
    • The influence of this element lasted over a long period of time
    • This element affected many people
    • This element had a very deep impact at the time
The expectation is that you provide a well developed and detailed response to justify your decisions. Ensure to include supporting details and a clear rational for why each of your top three elements had a deep impact on the Spanish and the Aztec. This is due Monday, March 19th

3. Most significant element digital narrative (3:00 minutes): In relation to the element that you feel was most important in shaping the worldview of the Spanish or the Aztec, create a mini-Pecha Kucha (what is this) digital narrative response consisting of 6 slides. This should be completed in iMovie form. In this format you have 20 seconds per slide to communicate your response. With an average of 50-60 words per slide, your digital narrative script should be from 300 to no more than 360 words.  This will be imbedded into your KMZ file.

To create this digital narrative we will be working on the following elements of powerful writing:

·      Hook: engaging opening that grabs the reader’s attention Strategies: see this link
·      Word choice: descriptive and sophisticated language Strategies: Consciously add more descriptive, sophisticated language. Use powerful, more original verbs (walked-sauntered, worked-toiled). Adopt adverb- verb combinations (slowly sauntered; one must carefully consider). 
·      Sentence Variety: varied openings, variety of sentence lengths Strategies: see this link
·      Supporting details: the state, explain, support format Strategies: These should be specific, and come in the form of facts, technical language, and quotes from a reliable source. 
As well, we will be looking at the clarity of your voice and the quality and appropriateness of the images you choose.



4. Create a set of 2 place markers on a Google Earth KMZ file: Saving your work in a Google Earth KMZ file, along with your digital narrative, add place markers for the second and third most important elements that shaped the Spanish and Aztec worldview. To do this include an image and short write-up briefly outlining 2 other events, geographic features, or legacies that influenced the Spanish or Aztec worldview. Here you are asked to use a W5 format to explain 1) what the element is, 2) where the influence was found, 3) the duration of time this element affected people, 4) who was involved, and 5) why and how this element influenced the worldview, beliefs, and actions of the Spanish or the Aztec. Once you have done this, create a well written paragraph using the elements of powerful writing above. 




[1] Half the class can choose the Spanish and half can choose the Aztecs.


March 22nd Spanish/Aztec Exam Study Guide






The culminating test for the Spanish Aztec unit will be on Thursday, March 22nd. It will involve the following sections:



Section 1: Multiple choice/short answer

Terms explored in Our Worldviews Textbook that you need to be familiar with:
                
o   Expansionism
o   Cartography
o   Circumnavigate
o   Astrolabe
o   Carrack
o   Reconquista
o   Conquistadors
o   Spanish Inquisition
o   Quetzalcoatl
o   Chinampas
o   Nomadic
o   Plateau
o   Incarnation
o  Worldview

People you should know the historical significance of:

o   Christopher Columbus
o   Henry the Navigator
o   King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella
o   Hernan Cortes
o   Moors
o   The Toltec
o   Itzcoatl
o   Montezuma

Places you should know the historical significance of and be able to label on a map:

o      Iberian Peninsula
o     Kingdoms of Castile and Leon, and Aragon
o     Meseta Central Plateau Spain
Mediterranean Sea
o Atlantic Ocean 
Pyrenees
o Cordoba
o    Teotihuacan
o    Tlaxcala
o    Tenochitlan
o    Lake Texcoco
o    Valley of Mexico
Sierra Madre Oriental 
Sierra Madre Occidental

Important dates you should know the historical significance of:

o   1428
o   1479
o   1492
o   1519

Section 2: Image analysis and connection to worldview

In this section you will be given a series of images and will be asked to make connections as to what the image can tell us about the worldview of the Spanish or the Aztecs. These images will speak to the questions:

1.    What were the key elements of the Aztec worldview prior to contact with the Spanish?
2.  How did the history of Spain affect its worldview?

Draw on your clues for identifying worldview document and this What is worldview powerpoint to help you make connections between images and the following seven elements of worldview:

·      View of human nature
·      View of the good life
·      Equality with others
·      Responsibilities to others
·      Relationship between the individual and the state
·      Relationship of humans with nature
·      Sources of ethical wisdom

Section 3: Longer answer questions

In this section ensure you are able to respond to the following list of questions. You will be marked based on a SES rubric assessing your ability to state, explain, and support your argument with specific supporting details and facts. To achieve this draw on your notes from the various documentaries we have watched along with in class lectures and class discussions.


1.    How did geography influence the societies of the Aztec and the Spanish?
2.    How did the history of Spain influence the desire for the Spanish Monarchy to expand their Empire?
3.    How did contact with the Moors and knowledge of the Toltec influence the Spanish and the Aztec?
4.    In what ways did factors such as technology and disease contribute to the dominance of the Spanish over the Aztec civilization?
5.    In what ways did the geographic location and historical experiences of the Spanish lead to their dominance over the Aztecs?

Friday, March 2, 2012

Exploring the Spanish Monarchy's desire to expand their empire


The following questions will help you with the background knowledge necessary to think about what key elements of Spain's worldview led to the desire to expand the Spanish Empire. 
These questions are due Wednesday, March 7th.

Working with a partner in a google doc and answering in complete sentences, please use your Our Worldviews textbook to find responses to the the following questions:

P. 98-115

1. What is “Expansionism”?

2. Why did Western European countries want new trade routes?

3. How did new ideas in geography change man’s view of the earth and lead to exploration?

4.   How did travel writers create interest in trade?

5. What technological advances aided navigation?

6. What was a carrack?

7. What was a caravel?  What was the value of both a carrack and a caravel?



8. Define cartography.  How did this contribute to navigation?

9. Define circumnavigate.  How was this  a new concept?

P. 102-108

1. Who was Henry the Navigator? What practices did he establish for explorers?

2. What factors allowed Portugal, France and Spain and England  to become the leading players in the Age of Exploration (or Age of Pillage and Plunder depending on your perspective)?

3. What did the Navigational Astrolabe allow a ship to do? How did this make navigation different from before?

4. Briefly, what, when, and for what country did each of these explorers find?

  • Bartholomew Diaz
  • Vasco da Gama
  • Christofolo Columbus
  • Amerigo Vespucci
  • Ferdinand Magellan 



P. 236-239    

1. What modern countries can now be found on the Iberian Peninsula?

2. What  legacy did the Romans leave  the Iberian  Peninsula that dominated and changed the area  for centuries?

3. What was the Reconquista?

4. Who were the  “conquistadors”?

5. Who were the Moors?

6. How long did the wars between the Moors and the Kingdoms of  Spain last?

7. What were the two biggest reasons why the Spanish rulers wanted to defeat the Moors?

8. What were two significant beliefs and values of the Conquistadors?

9. Who captured the last Muslim kingdom and when?

10. What finally unified the  two largest kingdoms of the Iberian Peninsula?

11. What did Christians believe  led them to conquer the Moors?

12. A citizen was considered a loyal citizen only if he did what?

13. After the Reconquista, how did the rulers of Spain Ferdinand and Isabella use this to their advantage?

14.  What was the Spanish Inquisition?

15.  What were the punishments if a person was found guilty by the Inquisition?

16. What eventually happened to all Jews and Muslims?

17. Describe the time in history of the Reconquista.

18.  How did this allow the Spanish rulers to  look to exploration to new lands?

19. What areas did they look to? Why?

20.  Who is Christopher Columbus and what did he do? What nationality was he?

21. What were the religious, economic, and political motives as to why the Spanish monarchy wanted to expand their empire?

22.  What attitudes did the Spanish have that justified the harsh treatment of the people they conquered and forced to convert to Catholicism?


P. 242-243

1. What areas did the Islamic Empire control? What did they not control?

2. Define: Cordoba

3. What were the two most important legacies or contributions that the Muslims had on the Spanish?


P. 254-255

1. What did Ferdinand and Isabella do to have the power to rule Spain as they wished?

2. What was The Cortes?

3. How did Ferdinand and Isabelle reduce the power of The Cortes?

4. How did they get the support of the merchants?

5. How did they stop the cities from becoming too powerful?

6. Why did Ferdinand and Isabelle want to control the Roman Catholic Church?

7. How did they get the Pope to give them the power to do this?

P. 256


1. What were some domestic issues that  were problems for the Monarchy?

2. Describe these problems.

3. How did King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella build the most powerful  and wealthy country in Europe by the 16th century?