lassical C onversations® introduces Classical Acts & Facts History Cards ©2011 Classical Conversations® All rights reserved. All material in this brochure is for the use and information of Classical Conversations directors. No reproduction or distribution in any other form is permitted. THE MIDDLE AGES 67 Erik the Red and Leif Eriksson, 2000 Norse Explorers c. 900–c. 1100 Bands of Scandinavian sailors known as Vikings explored and plundered the known world during the Middle Ages. While on a 1500 raid, two Viking ships were blown off course and landed on the island of Iceland. Other Norwegians soon joined them and settled there. By 930, the population had grown to 20,000. Conditions were not ideal for farming, so most settlers became shepherds. Initially, the small population allowed for a loose government with families settling their 1000 own disputes. As the population of Iceland grew, the settlers formed a government known as the Althing, which functioned much like a democracy. The most serious criminals were subject to banishment. Erik the Red, the most famous person to be banished from Iceland, was forced to leave after killing two of his neighbors. He sailed to 500 Greenland and established a new colony. His son, Leif Eriksson, converted to Christianity during a visit to Norway and then brought Christianity to Greenland. Living conditions in icy Greenland were harsh, and many Vikings continued to set out on voyages. In 1002, Leif Eriksson set out on a voyage to discover a mysterious land he had heard about during evening discussions around the fire. He made 0 it to Newfoundland, Canada, which he named Vinland in honor Guests from Overseas, Nicholas Roerich, 1901 Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow of the vines growing there. For many years, historians believed that the legends about Leif Eriksson’s voyage were fiction. However, in the 1960s, archaeologists found the ruins of eight Norse longhouses Erik the Red and Leif in Newfoundland, demonstrating that Viking explorers had in fact reached North America. Eriksson, Norse Explorers c. 900 2000 lassical onversations® C MULTIMEDIA 4000 ©2011 Classical Conversations® MultiMedia 2 ©2011–2012 Classical Conversations® Classical Conversations® MultiMedia has a new addition to our ever- this internal-use document will anticipate and answer such questions. growing line of classical products that are designed to complement A more detailed communication will be released at a later date, but Classical Conversations programs. We are very excited about our new for now we want to satisfy your curiosity and equip you to respond to upcoming product, Classical Acts & Facts History Cards. Some regional questions about the new Classical Conversations history timeline cards. managers are already receiving questions about them, and hopefully, THE MIDDLE AGES What are the Classical Acts & Facts History Cards? Classical Conversations has developed its own timeline of 161 events of human history, representing major cultures and every continent. AGE OF INDUSTRY The events are divided into seven ages (see below for the specifics) and printed onto cards with the same superior quality as our laminated Classical Acts & Facts Science Cards, with a memory peg image on the front and a description of the event on the back. Saint Benedict, Pietro Perugino What will the history cards look like? Italian artist, painted c. 1495 Each card front displays the event title and year plus a beautiful Benedict and Monasticism 529 memory peg image. The images were chosen to serve families from Foundations through cultural studies in the upper levels of Challenge. Crowd Of People Watching Execution, Paris, France AGE OF ANCIENT EMPIRES French Revolution The back of each card includes the event description, a world map 1789 pinpointing the event location, and a general timeline illustrating when the event occurred relative to known history. When will the cards be available? The history cards will be available winter 2012 to coincide with the 1 release of the Foundations Guide, 4th edition. The new history card Age of Ancient Empires 2000 titles will be included in the 4th edition of the Foundations Guide (see Creation–c. AD 450 The first known cities, which would grow into the ancient empires, appeared around 3000 BC. Towns were constructed near rivers and below). depended on these reliable sources of water for drinking, cooking, 1500 bathing, irrigating crops, and transportation. In these agricultural societies, farmers designed tools for clearing land and harvesting crops, constructed irrigation systems for their fields, and developed breeding techniques for their animals. The early empires to develop in this period included Sumer (present- These cards sound wonderful—can you tell 1000 day Iraq), the Indus River Valley (present-day Pakistan), Crete, Egypt, the Casma Valley (present-day Peru), and the Shang Dynasty (present- day China). Many people mistakenly think that the Age of Ancient Empires was a primitive time in the history of mankind. In actuality, me more? Giza Plateau: Great Sphinx—head Danielside closeup Mayer the ancient civilizations that flourished during this period developed useful tools, elaborate architecture, civil and military governments, • There are 161 cards, divided into 23 weeks, which follows the http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Giza_Plateau_-_Great_Sphinx_-_head_side_closeup.JPG500 and systems of writing that allowed them to keep records. Some of the wonders of these ancient empires include the ziggurat temples and cuneiform writing of ancient Sumer, the pyramids and hiero- Foundations memory work schedule. Week 24 lists the U.S. Age of Ancientad Empires450 glyphs of Egypt, the large stone temples of Peru, the carefully planned Creation–c. citadels of the Indus Valley, and the intricate silk, bronze, and jade presidents. 0 artifacts designed in the first Chinese cities. The Age of Ancient Empires included startling times of upheaval as rival warriors within city-states fought for control and neigh- • Made to last throughout your homeschooling years, these heavy- boring tribes invaded. There were also times of peace and stability maintained by codified laws such as Hammurabi’s Code. The weight cards are already laminated and have rounded corners to Minoans, Mycenaeans, Hittites, Babylonians, Assyrians, Hebrews, Phoenicians, and Persians followed the early river valley civilizations 2000 in this era. The Age of Ancient Empires peaked with the sophisti- reduce wear from frequent handling. cated civilizations of Greece and Rome (499 BC–AD 500). • The cards are divided into seven ages: lassical • Age of Ancient Empires onversations® C MULTIMEDIA 4000 • The Middle Ages ©2011 Classical Conversations® MultiMedia • Age of Exploration • Age of Absolute Monarchs • Age of Enlightenment • Age of Industry • Age of Information and Globalization • These cards have a global perspective—they touch all of the How are the cards arranged? continents. The cards are arranged chronologically; events with a date range have • Major Bible and church history events are integrated into the the beginning of the range on the front, with the full range on the timeline. back. Each card also has a unique number, discreetly positioned on the back for quick sorting. ©2011–2012 Classical Conversations® 3 How will the cards be packaged and priced? The cards will be packaged in four sets and cost $22 per set. Each THE MIDDLE AGES U.S. PRESIDENTS set will advance the timeline chronology. The sets include not only the timeline facts to modern day, but also eleven cards that list and describe the U.S. presidents to date. 1 George Washington 2 John Adams How will these new cards impact the memory 1789–1797 1797–1801 work of the Foundations program and its current use of the Veritas Press cards? Foundations communities are encouraged to begin using the new cards 3 Thomas Jefferson 4 James Madison in fall 2012. In order to ease the transition for families, directors will 1801–1809 1809–1817 Byzantine Emperor Justinian continue to accept the Veritas timeline for Memory Master testing for 527 Washington, Adams, the next three years. Jefferson, Madison AGE OF EXPLORATION 2000 United States Presidents 162 1. George Washington b. 1732, Virginia; d. 1799 Education: Common schools (1789–1797) Occupation: Planter, soldier, Commander in First in war, 1500 Will other resources be available to supplement Chief of the Continental Army first in peace Vice President: John Adams and first in the hearts of his Political Party: None* countrymen. Historical Context: American Revolution memorization of the new history timeline? *Political parties emerged during Washington’s second term. 1000 2. John Adams b. 1735, Massachusetts Bay Colony; d. 1826 So glad you asked! Now that we own the history timeline, CC can Education: Harvard College, MA, 1755 (1797–1801) Occupation: Lawyer, diplomat, delegate People and Vice President: Thomas Jefferson nations are forged in produce a variety of useful timeline memory resources. First on our 500 Political Party: Federalist the fires of Historical Context: U.S. Constitution, Bill of Rights adversity. 3. Thomas Jefferson list is a timeline song—the most requested memory aid of parents b. 1743, Virginia; d. 1826 Education: College of William & Mary, VA, (1801–1809) 1762 Government 0 and tutors alike. We are happy to announce that Anne MacCallum Occupation: Lawyer, planter, delegate, is best which governor of Virginia, diplomat, Secretary of Stategoverns least. (Creative Bone Music), the loved-by-all creator and singer of the Vice Presidents: Aaron Burr, George Clinton Political Party: Democratic-Republican Historical Context: Louisiana Purchase, Lewis and Clark Foundations history sentences, will create and sing our new timeline 4. James Madison b. 1751, Virginia; d. 1836 2000 Education: College of New Jersey (Princeton), (1809–1817) song. This song will be available on the Memory Audio CD and 1771 Father of the Occupation: Lawyer, delegate, Secretary of State Constitution Classical Conversations Connected. The Weekly Memory Audio CD Vice Presidents: George Clinton, Elbridge Gerry Small English Ship Dismasted in a Gale lassical Political Party: Democratic-Republican , Willem van de Velde (II) c.