5
How to use this content:
As listed on the “Start Here” page for this unit, one of the unit objectives is “Identify Key Historical Facts” This objective will be assessed by the unit quiz. While reading and watching the content in the following links and videos, make note of historical facts and information so you can return to them as needed when working on the unit quiz. Be on the lookout for names of artists, influential people, artworks, important events, trends and values in the culture.
Ancient Rome/ Medieval
“All roads lead to Rome” was an ancient phrase. It still holds today; not only do many of Rome’s famous roadways still remain, but so many of our modern systems, values, and ways of thinking can be traced back to Ancient Roman origins. Also, they understood the impact of visual information, and in the pursuit of expressing power, made some pretty amazing artistic monuments.
Link# 1: Ancient Rome: Overview
REPUBLICAN ROME
These artworks come from the period of Ancient Rome which functioned as a democratic republic. The artworks reflect the democratic values of that political landscape.
Link #2: veristic portraiture
Link #3: Roman Portrait at Metropolitan Museum
IMPERIAL ROME
These artworks come from the period of Ancient Rome which which function as a political empire. The artworks reflect the values of an imperial state.
Link #4: Augustus Primaporta
Link #5: Roman Architecture
Link #6: Pantheon
Link #7: Column of Trajan
Link #8: Marcus Aurelius Equestrian
Medieval Art
There is no one single description, type or style for Medieval art. Everything was a hybrid, a mash up, a confluence of beliefs, values and ideas as power shifted and Christianity spread across Western Europe. In Byzantine art we see how Christian ideology merged with Roman Imperial motifs for an entirely new style. In the West, we see how the pagan influence of ancient tribes blended to produce visually spectacular Christian manuscripts. Please note that the term “Medieval” is polyvalent. It is used as a kind of catch-all term, referring to a variety of arts and architecture that fall between the Classical period and the Renaissance. The following are just a few examples, not a comprehensive overview.
Link #9: Intro to Medieval
Link #10: Intro to Christianity
Byzantine
Byzantine arts reflect the complex culture of the town of ancient Byzantium, as well as the late Roman empire that was based there.
Link #11: San Vitale in Ravenna
Link #12: Mosaics
Western Medieval
When the Western part of the ancient Roman empire fell, there was a power-gap, which was filled by a variety of influences from smaller cultural groups. The Lidsfarne Gospel is an example of how new art traditions developed in the absence of the Roman cultural domination.
Link #13: Lindesfarne on SmartHistory
More Learning Resources
Remember, since we can’t cover everything about art in this class, these reading assignments are based on the choices I have made for what to include, but there is much more that has not been included. If you are interested in learning more, please remember that our primary source, the Khan Academy, has lots of other videos and articles that explore this time and culture even further. You can explore them at Khan Academy (Ancient Rome) or SmartHistory (Ancient Rome).
These links are not required reading for this unit, but if you are interested in learning more, you might enjoy exploring these resources:
These links are not required reading for this unit, but if you are interested in learning more, you might enjoy exploring these resources
Virtual reconstruction of Ancient Rome — I found this fascinating!
A visual expression of the decay in power in the late Roman Empire