Notes, summaries, assignments, exams, and exercises for History for Vocational training

Il Gesù and Sant'Andrea in Mantua: Differences and Similarities

The churches of Il Gesù in Rome and Sant'Andrea in Mantua share some architectural features, such as the use of double pilasters and arched chapels. However, they also exhibit key differences. In Sant'Andrea, there is no rostrum or pulpit, and the cornice is supported by a barrel vault decorated with moldings. Another difference is the Baroque dome, which is always a barrel vault with arches. Between the arch and the wall, openings illuminate the arches, featuring a window and a small vault or crescent lunette, also curved. This is a quintessential Baroque feature known as a barrel vault with lunettes.

From the base, the use of light is evident, with a rosette or window. The small...

World War II: Main Ideas and Context

Main Ideas

1. Economic and political problems troubled Europe in the years after World War I.
2. World War II broke out when Germany invaded Poland.
3. Nazi Germany targeted the Jews during the Holocaust.
4. Allied victories in Europe and Japan brought the end of World War II.

The Big Idea

Problems in Europe led to World War II, the deadliest war in history.

The Great Depression

It was a global crisis in the 1930s.

Meaning of Dictator

A dictator is a ruler who has total control.

Most Famous Dictators

Below are descriptions of prominent dictators leading up to and during the war:

• Russia: Vladimir Lenin. He gained power in the 1917 Revolution and formed a communist government; he also created the Soviet Union.
• Joseph Stalin. He took

Tell a Painter's Name

Famous Painters

• Pablo Picasso (1881–1973)
• Vincent van Gogh

Art Movement

• The Impressionists

The Atlantic Slave Trade

Between 9–11 million Africans were taken by European slave traders and landed alive in North America. Between 1698 and 1807 the slave trade was open to anyone who wanted to take part. Before that, it was restricted to the Royal African Company. The first African slaves arrived in Jamestown in 1618. They were sold and forced to work on plantations (sugar, cotton, tobacco) in America. Slavery was hereditary.

Slave Auctions

“The Weeping Time”, March 1859, was the largest slave auction in history. 436 men, women, and children were sold. They stayed in stalls meant for horses at a racetrack in Savannah, Georgia...

William Dunbar and Occasional Poetry

William Dunbar (c. 1460–c. 1520) was a prominent Scottish makar (poet) associated with the court of James IV of Scotland. He received a classical education at the University of St. Andrews and exemplifies the figure of the courtier poet.

"To the Princess Margaret on her Arrival at Holyrood" (1503)

This poem is an example of occasional poetry—verse written specifically to celebrate or commemorate a certain event. Dunbar composed this piece in 1503 to honor Princess Margaret, the daughter of Henry VII of England, upon her arrival in Scotland.

The Context of the Tudor Renaissance State

The poem was produced under the reign of Henry VII, who inaugurated the Tudor dynasty on the English throne following his victory...

Tragic Week (1909)

The Tragic Week was a series of violent confrontations in Barcelona and other cities of Catalonia in July 1909. It began with the embarkation of reserve soldiers bound for the Moroccan War. The masses, protesting the war, attacked and burned churches and convents. The government declared a state of war and sent the army to suppress the uprising. The execution of the anarchist Francisco Ferrer Guardia led to the fall of Maura's government.

Ferdinand VII (1784-1833)

Ferdinand VII, King of Spain, was the son of Charles IV. His reign began with the occupation of Spain by the French army. Ferdinand and his father were exiled to France. Upon his return, he reinstated absolutism, suppressing the liberal reforms.

Cacique

Caciques were...

Richard Lovelace: "To Althea, from Prison" (1642)

This celebrated poem, “To Althea, from Prison,” was written in 1642 by Richard Lovelace, a prominent Cavalier poet. The year 1642 marked the beginning of the tumultuous English Civil War, providing a critical context for the poem's creation.

The Reign of Charles I and Political Conflict

The political climate was highly volatile. King Charles I, like all the Stuarts, staunchly believed in the Divine Right of Kings, asserting that the monarch’s power was conferred directly by God and therefore could not be disputed. This belief led to serious conflicts with the Parliament, which sought to control the King’s government, particularly regarding taxation.

Charles I attempted to circumvent parliamentary...

The Term "Reconquista": Historiography and Tradition

Evolution of the Reconquista (790-1300)

According to some scholars^[1], the term is historically inaccurate, since the Christian kingdoms that "recaptured" the mainland were established after the Islamic invasion. This contradicts attempts by some of these monarchies to present themselves as direct descendants of the ancient Visigothic Kingdom. Instead, it suggests a desire for political legitimacy, with these kingdoms considering themselves true heirs and descendants of the Visigoths, and an attempt by Christian kingdoms (particularly Castile) to justify their conquests by claiming a bloodline to the Goths.

The term also appears confusing, especially considering that after the collapse of the...

The Rise of Restoration Libertinism

As a reaction to the great restrictions experienced during the years of the Commonwealth, the Restoration brought Libertinism—a lifestyle based on freedom and enjoyment. The pattern for this was set by the king himself, known as “the merry monarch.” Most poems were produced at court by members of the nobility, such as the Earl of Dorset, who could express their opinions freely due to their wealth and the king's protection.

This period was defined by a rejection of all forms of control, featuring works that openly addressed sexuality and ironically criticized many aspects of society.

Sackville’s Critique of Charles II

Sackville refers to Charles II as “poor Rowley” in verse 5; the king was known by...

The Vietnam War

The Vietnam War began when the Communist Vietcong launched a struggle for the reunification of Vietnam with the help of China and the USSR. The United States sent weapons to support the Saigon regime. In the 1960s, Presidents Kennedy and Johnson sent in troops. The Vietnam War was a peripheral conflict. In American society, a broad movement of rejection emerged. The United States withdrew its troops in 1973, and in 1975, the Communists achieved the country's reunification.

The Upsurge in Tension Between the Blocks

The end of the decade saw a new escalation of tensions with the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. The United States, in turn, increased its interventions in Latin America. Ronald Reagan arrived at the White House in 1981....

Early America (35,000 Years Ago)

• A 1,500 km land bridge connected Asia with America.
• Migratory groups moved from Alaska to what is now the U.S.A.
• Key groups: Hohokam, Adenans, Hopewellians, and Anasazi.
• They built earth mounds in the shapes of pyramids, birds, or serpents.
• Life was closely tied to the land; society was clan-oriented.
• These groups were eventually replaced by the Hopi and Zuni.

European Exploration

• Norse: The first Europeans to arrive in North America; Erik the Red established a settlement in Greenland in 985.
• Christopher Columbus: Landed in the Caribbean Sea in 1492.
• John Cabot: Provided the basis for British claims to America.
• Spanish Explorers: Juan Ponce de León (Florida), Hernando de Soto (Florida, Mississippi), Francisco Vázquez