1. Preview of our next unit: The Renaissance After the fall of the Roman Empire…things go downhill. All those nice apartments, indoor plumbing and books about democracy are “lost” for many years. Society during the Middle Ages in Europe was controlled by the church, and people aside from priests had little access to education.

2. However, things begin to change. People start to rediscover the works of the ancient past. They want to emulate the Greeks and Romans. They begin to rediscover ideas about the worth of the individual…. Our story begins in a city called Florence, where a family called the Medici struggle for power…. YOU ARE HERE

3. Take notes on the video as a “preview” to what the Renaissance is all about.

4. Assignment#1: The Medici – Godfathers of the Renaissance - Video Notes http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FFDJK8jmms&list=SL (0-21 and 35-54) Big Picture Question: How did the Medici Family rise to power and what influence did they have on the Renaissance? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FFDJK8jmms&list=SL Commentary on how notes to the right connect to “Big Picture” Question Details/Terms/Facts/Names