Lesson One
"Natural Law" | Language Arts
Law
U.S. History
World History
World Languages
| The theory of Natural Law is explored, highlighting the works of Cicero, Justinian, and Aquinas. Students identify a primeval concept of Natural Law in the play Antigone, and they compare that concept to the words in the Declaration of Independence. |
| Accompanying file: Cicero Essay |
| Accompanying file: Justinian Essay |
| Accompanying file: Aquinas Essay |
Lesson Two
Giovanni Pico della Mirandola and the Concept of Progress | Language Arts
Science
World History
World Languages
| The lesson explains the intellectual change that took place during the Renaissance from a society based on the unchanging eternal, to a society that accepted change and actively sought to bring beauty and improvements into the world. |
| Accompanying file: Pico Essay |
Lesson Three
Alternatives to the Venetian Spice Monopoly | Economics
U.S. History
World History
World Languages
| The Venetian monopoly on Oriental spices and the alternatives that were pursued by Western powers and especially by Italian captains, sailors, cartographers, and navigators, are studied. |
| Accompanying file: Venetian Spice Trade Essay |
Lesson Four
Understanding Stream-of-Consciousness through Leonardo da Vinci's principle of Curiositia | Language Arts
World Languages
| Students will participate in the Stream-of-Consciousness method, based on observations of Leonardo da Vinci's work. |
| Accompanying file: Curiosita Essay |
Lesson Five
All Men are Equal | Language Arts
Law
U.S. History
World History
World Languages
| The concept of Equality from Paul of Tarsus in 48AD, through Ulpian in the 3rd century AD, to Filippo Mazzei's influence on George Mason and Thomas Jefferson is presented. Dr. Martin Luther King's understanding of the concept is explored. |
| Accompanying file: Equality Supplemental |
