Blogging European History

September 27, 1389

Can you believe that the taxes on Florentine crafts and goods implemented in 1316 are still in place? It’s absolutely ridiculous! This morning I ran some errands for Piccarda, my pregnant wife. I just picked up some meet from the butcher, some spices, and four new locks for the doors in the new addition to our home, and it cost me a fortune. Shortly after finishing my errands, I attended jury trial brought about by conflict between Florence and St. Gimignana, a common reason for trial. The peace treaty between Florence and St. Gimignana in 1225 did lay out a set of rules for conflict between commoners of each city, but these rules, just like all rules, are broken daily. I do not have a particular interest in politics or government law so the trial was grueling. Soon after the trial, I met with a young architect by the name of Filippo Brunelleschi. I am very interested in the arts and I constantly look to identify new artists and architects. In fact, I am the first of the Medici family to be a patron of the arts. I look to aid Filippo in his architectural studies and help sponsor his future projects. I see a very bright future for him and maybe one day he will build something in conjunction with me.  After my encounter with Filippo I decided to stop by Basilica di San Lorenzo. I often go there at random times during the day to pray, being a catholic man. Basilica de San Lorenzo is the parish church of the Medici family and the burial grounds to many of my ancestors, so it is a very important place to me. I finally came home to see my beautiful wife at around the beginning of the day, two hours after sunset, and you would never guess what happened. I walked in and called her name, “Piccarda! Piccarda!,” but there was no answer. I walked further into the house and started to hear the screams of my wife. I ran to the sound of her cries and noticed she was on the ground in the bathroo

Basilica di San Lorenzo. One of the oldest churches in Florence and the parish church to the Medici family.

Giovanni de Medici

m yelling in pain. I quickly realized that my wife was about to give birth to my first child. I rushed her to the physician (another service that has been taxed heavily:(  ) and she gave birth to my oldest son. We decided on the name Cosimo di Giovanni de Medici, a common name in my ancestry. Who knew that today would be the day that I get my first son!

My Life as an Artist- Introduction

One of the most influcencial artists of the Italian Renaissance.  Yes, that is one the first thoughts that comes to mind when people hear my name, Tommaso di Ser Giovanni di Simone, more commonly known as Masaccio.  By this year of 1428, I have painted over nine frescos, or mural paintings (some individually and others along with the help of my once dear friend Masolino), and I’m currently working on a painting I intend to title The Expulsion from the Garden of Eden.  I am extremely passionate about my artistic collections and my greatest wish is that they will continued to be observed and enjoyed in the future, when I will no longer reside on earth.

The Expulsion from the Garden of Eden before and after restoration.  The first fresco shown is an image of the primary painting.

My Life as an Artist- Famous Works

I can remember working on my very first fresco as if it were yesterday.  I titled it the San Giovenale Triptych and it was completed in 1422.  Although the San Giovenale Triptych is not very well known, I am very proud of it because creating it was the first big accomplishment in my career as an artist.  I have inserted an image of the original painting below.  Some other works of mine up until this year (1428) include: Virgin and Child with Saint Anne (1424), Madonna with Child (1424), Tribute Money (1428), and Holy Trinity (1428).  I often wonder why my frescos are admired by many.  After all, there are many great painters of my time such as Masolino, Donatello, and Brunelleschi.  When pondering over this topic, I always conclude that the popularity of my works is due to my fascination with three dimensional drawings because I am one of the first artists to paint with this method.

My Life as an Artist- Friends and Colleagues

There are sometimes days when I miss my old friend Masolino very much.  During the period of time in which we worked together, we were called the duo preciso e noto (well known duo).  I learned a great deal about painting from Masolino.  He was like my mentor, but he was also a very good friend.  I will never forget creating the Virgin and Child with Saint Anne (1424).  It was very hard to see him relocate from Italy to Hungary in 1425, though it was for the best because we were starting to form many opposing artistic opinions as we matured.  I have inserted an image of the original Virgin and Child with Saint Anne below.

While working with Masolino and studying in Florence, I acquired two friends by the names of Donatello and Brunelleschi.  With these friends, I continued to paint with a love for three dimensional frescos.  I hope that my desire to discover and perfect new artistic methods will inspire artists of the future.

My Life Worshipping God

March 20^th, 1212

Beginning my journey on the spiritual path-

I have heard the most wonderful sermon today. Francis of Assisi preached it today and his words have made me want to join in his path towards God. I plan to ask him to help me become more like him. I unfortunately must say that it needs to be done in secret, because my father wouldn’t approve. He wants me to be married to a wealthy man, but I only wish to be spiritually intertwined with our Lord.

March 20^th, 1212

I am now officially one with the church. Francis of Assisi eagerly took me in. I have been placed in the Convent of San Paolo with sisters with whom I share the same love for Jesus Christ. My attire has drastically changed; my once embroidered and lavish dress has now become a sack-like dress with a simple rope to tie it together. And my once long hair has been shorn short. I have also denounced my family name and the power it holds. Though this is no bother for me, because I would surely give up everything I have to be closer to God.

1212

Francis has helped me establish my own order. It is called the Poor Ladies. It pleases me to know that I will be able to spread the teachings of God in my own way. I feel as though this is my mission. To enlighten women all across Europe to join in the love and spirituality that surrounds us in the Poor Ladies.

1216

Francis has given me a small house attached to the church of San Damiano. He has also offered me the position of abbess and I have taken it. This, I feel, is where my life worshipping God shall take root and let me spread my teachings about our savior. This is where I truly belong.

1216-1253

My sisters, my mother, and other wealthy women from Florence have joined me in the Order of the Poor Ladies. I have heard talk about how strict I am with my order and it does not bother me. Although the rules I have set for the Order of the Poor Ladies might seem like torture to the other female convents I have decided to live in the strictest poverty. We shall only receive what our lord gives us. We shall own no property, wear no shoes and sleep on the floor. Most of our time will be spent in silence and we will only eat what is given to use from alms. Meat will not be included in these food items. We will also participate in manual labor helping those less fortunate. So yes, to some it may be extreme, but to me and my sisters this is how we shall bring ourselves to be humble in the eyes of God.

August 9, 1253

It has finally been approved. My heart is filled with a tremendous amount of joy. Our own Pope Innocent IV has approved my law. The Solnet Annure has insured that none of the churches rules shall interfere with The Order of the Poor Ladies other than my own. It fills me with warmth and accomplishment to know that these women will carry on my traditions and will hopefully serve God they way I taught them to.

The Life and Times of Amerigo Vespucci

Christopher Columbus may be famous for “discovering” the New World, but it’s named after me. There are many disputes about the explorations of individuals during this time period, so let me start from the beginning, as it seems a fitting place to do so. I left Cadiz in May 1497, on an expedition with four ships to the west. We passed many islands in the ocean, lots of them already settled. After many long days at sea, we came across a mass of land that we determined to be a continent. Once there, we saw many people along the coastline, dressed in nothing. Despite our calls of friendliness and peace, they stayed hidden. We decided to move on, because our ships were not in a very safe place anyway. After finding such a place to secure our ships, we went ashore, and found more people similar to those we had found before. After almost a full day of trying to convey to them that we were not here to harm them, they finally came out. We presented them with our gifts, and the next morning they presented us with gifts of theirs. During the following time we learned much about their lives and customs. For instance, they were very good athletes, both swimming and running. They had no organized religion, at least not one that was obvious to me. After being in the New World for a while, we set sail back to Spain, and we arrived in October of 1498.

This morning, I began reading the journal accounts of Christopher Columbus’s travels to the Americas. He also saw the same kinds of native peoples I did, I think. He also observed that they wore no clothes. He too noticed that they have a lack of organized religion, and he thought he could convert them to Christianity. However Mr. Columbus’s main mission was to find gold, and lots of it. You see, he thought he had found India, and from India he wanted this gold. He had not previously heard of the New World, and had no idea there were two large landmasses and another ocean between Europe and Asia.

I also came across Columbus’s letter to the King and Queen of Spain about his intentions of settling the New World and searching for gold. Even after his return, at this point in time, he still believed he discovered another route to India. He wants to build a small number of towns in his newly discovered lands, each one with a mayor. Among the buildings in his town, he wants a church to be built as a place for the colonists to worship, to help with the conversion of the Indians, which he named as though he had found India. He was a very thorough planner, I’ll give him that. He made all sorts of rules about what would be done depending on who found gold, when they found it, and what they were going to do with it. He also planned out how the gold would be kept, so that no one could steal it.

So you may be asking…if Columbus did indeed actually find the New World first, why is it named after me? Well, I was the first realize that the New World was not actually India, although I did not name it. Really. I’m not that self-centered. Actually, an amateur German geographer, who goes by the name Waldseemuller, named it. He deemed it appropriate since he thought I discovered it. I’m not going to argue with him. After all, why would I? I’ve got not losing anything. And it’s not totally a lie. Columbus may have seen it first, and wanted to settle it first, but I realized the significance of his discovery.

ARISTOTLE

In my studies of theology, I have taken much interest in the works of The Philosopher (Aristotle). Many Christian leaders today reject his teachings, saying that they contradict the teachings of The Holy Bible. However, I believe that his teachings can greatly complement much of what the Christian Church believes. Of course, in matters of which Aristotelian logic and the teachings of Bible differ, divine truths must domineer. The Franciscan Order has banned the reading of my works due to my views about The Philosopher, and the Universities in Paris and Oxford condemn many of my doctrines, but I feel that someday they will be rightfully appreciated. Albertus Magnus (a teacher at the stadium generale in Cologne), whom I met while I was studying at the University of Paris’ Faculty of Arts, said, about me, “We call him the dumb ox, but in his teaching he will one day produce such a bellowing that it will be heard throughout the world.”

I, personally, have adopted The Philosopher’s analysis of physical objects, his views of place, time, and motion, and his research of cosmology. I have also based much of my moral philosophies on what I have learned from him, but, as I say, beware the man of one book.

FAITH & REASON

Being a Catholic priest and a Christian theologian, of course I accept the teachings of the Church and the Holy Bible. However, I do believe that the teachings of the Church would be greatly supplemented and complemented by the teachings of philosophers, and even scientists. As I often say: Human salvation demands the divine disclosure of truths surpassing reason, still, we can also have natural revelations. Natural revelations come from our human nature and what we know, and these revelations show us that we can use rational logic to see that God, in fact, does exist. I believe that we need to use both faith (Supernatural revelation) and reason (natural revelation), to find truth and come closer to understanding God.

Related to this topic, I will explain the four laws I have distinguished: eternal, natural, human, and divine. Eternal is the everlasting, supreme law of God that reigns over all the Earth. Natural law is whether or not humans accept and receive the eternal law (this law is found through reason). Human law is that which governs humans (over societies and nations). Finally, Divine law is that which is revealed through the Word of God in his Holy Scriptures. I view eternal law as the overarching law, because it relates to and affects all of the other laws.

PERSONAL VIEWS

• The purpose of life is to become eternally unified with God
• I oppose with great fervency any sexual activity that is not simply to reproduce
• I believe that God is perfect, infinite, and unchanging
• All men are equal in liberty, but nothing else
• The greatest pleasures in life come from friendship
• Evil cannot exist without good, but good can exist without evil
• I believe that interest should not be charged on loans, because it is unfair to charge twice the amount owed

• Johannes Gutenberg                                                                                                            

The people’s choice which affected me in different ways (November 13, 1462):

I was split between two people who were arguing over who was going to be the archbishop of Mainz. One of the people was chosen to run by the pope, and was strongly encouraged by the French. Although the other person was strongly encouraged by the people of Mainz, he was not able to defeat the  other person. It was won by the support of the French, but mostly because of the support of the pope.  This victory has changed my life in a negative and positive way. I was indifferent on the decision, and commonly changed who I wanted to win because of their actions or something they said.  For those who did not support the winner of it, the punishment was harsh. All of their belongings were confiscated and they were forced into exile. Some of my family members were taken away, and I will never see them again. Another negative outcome of this was the sharp decline in the economics of Mainz. Even though some people showed great disrespect towards the person that one supported, they were not as cruel as the actions of Prince Vlad Dracula. On the contrary, this helped my invention of the printing press spread all over Europe.

My printing revolution (April 22, 1450):

Eleven years ago, I encountered a financial “misadventure” which sparked my idea of the printing press.   I   realized that it was time to share the idea of the printing press with the world. I revealed my idea in Strasburg, and people began to think that this idea could significantly change how we live. I made my last visit to Strasburg in 1444, and I do not plan on ever going back there.  Although, my time in Strasburg wasn’t wasted because of the information I learned about the printing press.  Many of the tests that I ran in Strasburg showed signs of great things to come for this new invention, but I had to find a way to get more money. My brother generously gave me money to begin this project, and I was able to open up my first printing press. Today, I am very excited to see the first document be printed on my press. They are printing a German poem. Also, on another thought, the construction of the Bible is coming along well, and I am eager to begin to print it.

The Gutenberg Bible (December 27, 1455):

I have just finished printing the Gutenberg Bible and I am impressed with the job I have done on it. Although this bible is impressive, the thing I am more proud of is my invention of the movable printing press. I think that this invention will significantly change the world. I spent a long time printing these bibles, and my goal is that showing the effectiveness of this movable printing press will begin a revolution of printing religious texts and also other forms of texts. I even think that Blind Harry would be impressed with my text.

My Trouble with Fust (October 18, 1455):

I can’t believe that my own business partner would turn on me in such a cruel way.  We worked on the Bible together, and it appeared that he would never disobey the friendship that we had together, but I was wrong. Fust was suing me for not repaying all of the money that I owe back to him. Fust, the person who I will never trust again, beat me in the law suit, and, because of this, Fust got control of the printing press and also control of over half of the bibles printed. I became bankrupt, but then I was able to open a small printing press. I am now doing great, but Fust took a good portion of my life away. Now I am now working my way   back up to the top.

Picture Bibliography:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Gutenberg.jpg

http://smu.edu/bridwell/specialcollections/schoeffer/06117.jpg

http://www.sulgravemanor.org.uk/education/sail_with_columbus.htm

I have done it! To everyone who doubted, I have done it! I have found the trans-Atlantic trade passageway and returned alive to tell the royal King and Queen of Spain! Just minutes ago I returned to the beautiful port of Palos on the fifteenth of March in the year 1493.This glory and celebration; however, does not come to this great country without troubles. There are still 40 men left behind on Hispaniola, and many more who are dead after the Pinta was lost in a terrible storm. As soon as the opportunity arises, I plan on requesting funding from the royalty of Spain, who so kindly supported me previously, to return to the islands of the far east.

I must return and if for some strange reason, Spain does not support a second voyage, as rival nation Portugal did previously, I should have no trouble finding others willing to send me. The journey was filled with adventures and new knowledge. The foreigners who live in these lands are not how they seemed according to Marco Polo and other great travelers of Asia. These people had little knowledge on the use of tools, and found the fact that we were clothed to be odd. The people were also in shock at the massive size and pristine craftsmanship of our ships. Even with these ships though, these islands were extremely difficult to navigate because of the shallow waters and many obstacles that hid beneath the surface.

The most unbelievable event just occurred! The Pinta, which I thought went down in that ferocious Atlantic storm, has just pulled into port! I thought for sure they had perished, but now, I know my fellow sailors are alive to tell a story of their own. Perhaps the captain of the Pinta, Martín Alonso Pinzón, would like to join me in my next expedition, hopefully to colonize and conquer the islands. Pinzón and I grew apart a bit after he took his crew in another direction to search for gold without permission. But the sour relationship was made up for after reuniting with him while exploring the coast of Hispaniola, and discovering that he had found some gold. At this point, the Santa Maria had sunk as well, so the addition of a second ship was very pleasing.

I am very excited for my next expedition to the islands surrounding Hispaniola in the far east, assuming the trip is funded. Last year, the king and queen of Spain made a deal with me that if I found this passage to Asia, I could conquer and govern these islands. On my next voyage, I hope to bring along more people and resources, so that I can bring the great culture of Spain to these foreign people.

-          C. Columbus

April 1, 1498

If only there was an easy antidote to the poison spread by the gentiles… I can no longer travel from town to town without a mob of dissenters forming. They shout allegations based on no fact whatsoever – no doubt the presence of the conversos still lingers. After all I have done for them! I fear three hundred men may not be enough to protect me – I went to Isabella for additional bodyguards, but she claimed it was all in my head. Maybe I will take her advice and retire to my monastery… Yes, I think my old joints would like that.

The will of God,

Tomas de Torquemada, Grand Inquisitor

July 31, 1495

It brings a smile to my face to think of what happened on this day three years ago.

“…persons of learning and wisdom of our Council, having taken deliberation about this matter, resolve to order the said Jews and Jewesses of our kingdoms to depart and never to return or come back to them or to any of them.” – Edict of Expulsion

Are they not the most gratifying words ever to be read? Just like that, so many of our problems disappeared. Think of all of the lives saved from the eternal fires. Heretics still exist, but these I can deal with separately.

So where do the Jews prowl now? It is easy enough to find them, for they bemoan their self-inflicted exodus. Let it be known that we did not simply release them to corrupt fellow Christians in other kingdoms. Our King (God bless) has long since barred the gentiles from trading gold and silver. Therefore they left our dominion with raw goods – hopefully making it more difficult for them to bribe honest fellows.

Still, many managed to slink into Portugal under the nose of the greedy King John. He dealt with them not a year later…He was perhaps a bit harsh with the children, but it is the will of God. Others went to Mohammedan kingdoms, where they starved outside city walls begging to be let in. Honestly, what can one expect from gentiles – They have loyalty not to God, not to others, but only to themselves.

The rest sailed off into the Mediterranean, where some were robbed and abandoned in the sea. The survivors made it to Italia, where – I kid you not – they were welcomed by several kings. They now enjoy heightened positions over the hardworking Christians and write blasphemy about our country. It is not enough to rid Jews from our kingdom – we must rid them from the world.

The will of God,

Tomas de Torquemada, Grand Inquisitor

April 16, 1492

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!

I cannot possibly communicate in words how much I detest The Abrabanel. He threatens to undermine EVERYTHING I have been working for. A man with so much wealth surely chooses to serve money instead of the Lord. He may continue attempting to bribe the court, but I will ensure no one takes his blood money.

Judas sold his Master for thirty pieces of silver…and my monarchs are about to sell him for thirty thousand. I think I will tell them as much, directly to their faces if I must.

The will of God,

Tomas de Torquemada, Grand Inquisitor

March 31, 1492

The most venerated and resolute words ever to be written shall be released to the world today! Generations from now the blessed will look back and see where it all started. The tempters, the Jews, will be expelled by the end of the summer. I knew our King and Queen (God bless) would not fall into the hands of the devil like so many before them. I know it seems like we are just handing the problem to someone else, but soon I hope they will take the same precautions as us. And so on and so on, until the Jews have nowhere to go but the bottom of the ocean. The Moors will follow.

It shall be hanging in all the markets of the kingdom, but lest ye miss it…The Edict of Expulsion!

I have so many places to be at once – it might be a while before I can write again.

The will of God,

Tomas de Torquemada, Grand Inquisitor

November 17, 1491

“Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city.”

The Jews grow more malicious by the day, and I fear there is little more we can do to spare them and ourselves. We must take back our country.

To those of you that are not 100% behind the cause, I must direct you to a most singular incident. Not long ago, a group of Jews seized a Christian boy in the small town of La Guardia and murdered him by means of crucifixion. They drained his blood and cut out his heart. Then they attempted to perform the most diabolical black magic. They wished all of us dead, my fellows. It is only by the will of God that we did not die in our sleep.

Time and time again we have shown the Jews mercy and kindness. Yet they repay us by murdering holy men in the house of the Lord (Pedro de Arbues, RIP) and torturing innocent children. There is only one option now. This country is not big enough for both of us.

The will of God,

Tomas de Torquemada, Grand Inquisitor

October 23, 1483

How entertaining it is to look back on my days as a young monk. I will admit that I was a bright boy, but also a whelp. For those of you who have not yet heard, I was recently promoted to Grand Inquisitor by the generous Pope Sixtus IV. He needed some prompting…but it is the will of God.

My dear followers of Christ, there may be some unpleasant changes in our kingdom. For too long the conversos have been left to their own devices. All too often they commit acts of sacrilege, dragging down innocents with them. It is time to root out the scourge of the New Christians. Does the Bible not say,

“And if thy right hand offend thee, cut if off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.”

Therefore I ask you, Sons and Daughters, to search for the blights among you. Do not be afraid to report even your neighbor to your local inquisitor. Surely you will be rewarded in the kingdom of heaven.

The will of God,

Tomas de Torquemada, Grand Inquisitor

March 14, 1462

Hello, I am Tomas de Torquemada. I decided to take up this blog because…well, I’m not really into social networking. The other monks say the only person on my friends list would be Jesus Christ…heh heh. They’re funny guys. Anyway, I’ll write some ideas down here. It’s safer than using pen and paper – the ol’ friars don’t know how to turn on a computer yet.

You know, the friars are always teaching us about devotion to God. They say the purity of Spain is threatened and it’s up to us to save her. The other monks lap it all up, of course. But I wonder – How? Obviously, if you want spiritual purity you have to get rid of all other religions. Here in Spain (for my international readers) we have three major groups: The Christians (that’s me and a bunch of other people), the Moors (followers of Muhammad), and the Jews. So if we get rid of the Moors and Jews, which is easy enough I’m sure, we’ll achieve purity.

Except…there’s been some conversion stuff going on for a while. Now we have three groups within just Christianity: the Muslim converts, the Jewish converts, and normal Christians. I’ve noticed some highly suspicious activities among these converts – people gathering in groups on Fridays, a woman passing over a perfectly good piece of pork at the market, etc. These people are the real threat to purity. It’s better to have three distinct groups than one muddy mixed group. If I was in charge, I would go after these…conversos.

I’m meeting a little princess tomorrow. If all goes well I might become her confessor. The other monks are making jokes that aren’t funny at all.

I have been on many adventures, but a very important one was the Endeavor voyage.

I was promptly appointed to a joint Royal Navy and Royal Society scientific expedition to the South Pacific Ocean on the HM Bark Endeavor. This was the first of my friend James Cook’s voyages of discovery in that region. The voyage was with James Cook and myself.

The voyage went to Brazil. That is where I made the first scientific description of a new common garden plant. The common garden plant is now known as Bougainvillea. Bougainvillea is named after James Cook’s counterpart, Louis Antoine de Bougainvillea. James Cook and I went to other parts of South America along with Brazil.

The voyage then progressed to Tahiti. Tahiti is where the transit of Venus was observed which was the overt purpose of the mission. James cook and I then progressed to New Zealand and to the east coast of Australia. The coast of east Australia is where James Cook mapped the coastline and made landfall at Botany Bay and Endeavor River in Queensland. James Cook and I spent almost seven weeks ashore while our ship was being repaired after we were foundering on the Great Barrier Reef. While James Cook and I were in the Australian Banks, the Swedish botanist, Daniel Soleander and the Finnish botanist, Dr. Herman Sporing Jr. made the first major collection of Australian flora. It described many species that were new to science at the time.

I returned back to England on the 12 of July in 1771. I immediately became famous. I intended to go with James Cook on his second voyage which began on the 13 of May in 1772, but difficulties arose about the accomodation for my assistants and I. I decided not to go. In July of the same year, Daniel Soleander and I visited the Isle or Wight aboard Sir Lawrence and we returned with many botanical specimens.

In 1773, I toured South Wales in the company of artist, Paul Sandby. When I settled in London, I began work on my Florlegium. I kept in touch with most of the scientists that I knew. I was elected a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences in 1773. I added a fresh interest when I was elected to the Dilettant Society in 1774. I was afterwards secretary of the society from 1778 to 1797. On the 30th of November in 1778, I was elected President of the Royal Society. This was a position I was to hold with great distinction over the course o 41 years.

At my London Residence, I welcomed scientists, students, and authors, and many distinguished foreign visitors.

At my secondary home,  I steadily created a renowned botanical masterpiece on the estate, achieve primarily with many of the great variet of foreign plants I had collected on my extensive travels around the world, particularly to Australia and the South Seas. The house and surrounding districe became known as Spring Grove.

I n1781, i was made a baronet.

As you can see I have many accomplishment and i hope that I will have many more accomplishments later in life.

Welcome to AP World History!