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Renaissance & Reformation

Unit 4: Renaissance & Reformation, 1500-1660

Renaissance & Reformation is the fourth in a series of seven study units. The unit immerses students into the rich heritage of historical and literary primary sources written from 1500 to 1660. This period in history had a powerful effect that changed the history of the organized church and the face of scholarship. This study unit is designed to cover one semester of study (18 weeks).

What is Included with the Purchase of this Study Unit

A Word in Season Reference Handbook
Reading List and Annotated Bibliography for the Renaissance & Reformation
Student's Syllabus for Unit 4: Renaissance & Reformation
Literature of the Renaissance & Reformation (55 readings)
11 complete texts of Renaissance & Reformation

History Studied in This Unit:

The Renaissance & Reformation study unit moves from the Dark Ages and introduces a time of exploration in all areas of life such as science, global exploration, and the arts. Navigators of the Renaissance expanded the world as they circumnavigated the globe and explored the Americas known as the New World. Humanists revived the love of learning based on primary and original sources of scholarship by displacing medieval Scholasticism that promoted secondary sources such as commentaries of Scripture. Adopting the principle of using primary source material for scholarship, men of northern Europe ignited the Reformation and altered the development of the Church.

Literature Studied in This Unit:

The unit explores the rich literary works of such authors as Shakespeare, Dante, and Montaigne and many other humanists and the great works of Reformation literature such as the works of Martin Luther, John Calvin, John Milton, John Bunyan, William Bradford, Cotton Mather, and Anne Bradstreet.

Writing Studied in This Unit:

Biblical Exposition
1-3-1 History Essay
Critical Analysis

Specific Goals for this Study Unit

To use the writing process: prewriting, outline, rough draft, editing, final draft
To compare world views
To increase vocabulary
To edit for mechanical and grammatical accuracy
To research, write, and document history questions
To learn literary documentation
To appreciate Shakespearean drama
To read Middle English