The Codex and the Illuminated Manuscript | 1st century AD

What were the drawbacks of the scroll?
   It was that readers had to read the scrolls in sequential order.

What is a codex?
   A codex is a collection of handwritten pages.
"Codex" is derived from the Latin meaning "block of wood". Why?
   The codex is practically a book of wood so it is sturdy and durable.
What is the difference between "sequential access" and "random access"?
   Sequential access is were information must be read in order. Random access os that you can start from anywhere to find information.

What were the advantages of using the codex?
   It was easier to organize, information access, and portability.
What helped spread the use of the codex?
   The Bible.
What replaced papyrus? Describe the process used to create it?
Parchment had replaced the papyrus. Sheep and cow skins were used. The hair and fat was removed and the hide was soaked in water then calcium, flour, and salt were added. The skin was then stretched, flattened and hung to dry.

What is vellum?
   Vellum is finer parchment made from skins of young calves.
Name several examples of current technology that utilizes the format of the codex?
   Ipad and kindle.
What led to a period of cultural and economical deterioration?
   The Romans being conquered by the Hun.

Who began creating books by hand, taking the creation to an art form?
   Monastic Monks who became the scribes.
What does "illumination" refer to? What was included in this ornamentation?
   It refers to the borders, illustrations, and ornamentation added to each page of the text.
What tool was used for creating the illuminated manuscripts?
   Natural guill pens or feathers from birds.
Why were these manuscripts reserved for religious purposes?
   The books were so laborious.
What is craftsmanship? Why is it important?

   Craftsmanship is the ability to put everything together. It was important to make sure everything looked neat.

The Roman Alphabet | 7th century BC

What was the basis of the Roman uppercase alphabet?
   The basis of the uppercase letters was a variant form of the Greek alphabet.What were the purposes of the formal and informal styles of lettering?
   A formal script was used for important manuscripts and official document. The informal scripts were used for quick letters and routine types of writing.

Why is the Roman alphabet the most widely used and what contributions did it make?
   Institution of the baseline to make sure the words were typed in rows.
From where did serifs originate?
   Ancient Italy.
When and where did lowercase, or minuscule, letters develop?
 
What is a ligature and why were they utilized?
   A ligature is a stroke that binds two letters together. They were utilized to decrease writing time in a simpler fashion.

Post an example of the Roman alphabet in visual form. 

The Greek Alphabet | 800 BC

How did Greeks come in contact with the Phoenicians?
   The Phoenicians regularly traveled to Greece and traded with  them.
How was the Greek adaptation of the alphabet different from its predecessor?
   The letter forms that were consonants were adapted as vowels and a lot more letters were included.
Why is the Greek alphabet considered to be the world's first true alphabet?
   This language gave "birth" to many other languages.
Name several similarities and differences between the Greek and modern English alphabets?   Som letters of this alphabet have the same look of our letters but each letter in the greek alphabet has  a certain word to it.


Post an example of the Greek alphabet in visual form. 

The Phoenician Alphabet | 1050 BC

The Phoenician alphabet is based on what principle?
   It is based on the principle that one sign represents one spoken word.
Describe the shape of the letters and what tool created them?
   The shapes were angular and straight. The tool used to create them was a stylus.
What two reasons made the Phoenician alphabet so successful?
   The reasons were that the Phoenician alphabet contrasted with other scripts using complex characters and that 
this language was used between merchants.

What long term effects on the social structures of civilizations did the Phoenicians have with the creation of their alphabet?




   This was the first widespread script, it was simple for everyone to use, and disintegrated divisions between royalty and common people.


Post an example of the Phoenician alphabet in visual form.

   

Hieroglyphics and the Egyptians | 3,000 BC

In the sixth century BC, what three civilizations invaded Egypt?
   The three civilizations were the Persians, the greeks and romans.Post an example of the inside wall(s) of an Ancient Egyptian temple.






















What was discovered on the inside of the temples?
   They discovered great pyramids, tombs, and temples.
Scholars believe that Ancient Egyptians were inspired and influenced by which written language?
   Cuneiform
What is the difference between logographic and alphabetic elements?
   Logographic are visual symbols. Alphabetic was demotic and used for documents.





The term Hieroglyphic derived from what two Greek words?
   Hiero and glyphic.
What is a scribe?
   A scribe is a school were people learn how to read and right.
Who else was trained to read and write? Why?
   Military leaders also went so they could communicate in battle.Post an example of hieroglyphics on papyrus.
What is papyrus and how was it made?   Papyrus is a substrate made from reeds native to the land. It was made by  placing wet reeds on top of each other, flattened, and dried. Then rubbed smooth with flat stones.
What is a substrate?
   A substrate is a substance or layer that underlies something.
What were the Books of the Dead?
   These books were instructions and spells to help Pharaohs and other important people find their way to the afterlife.
How did Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics become a forgotten language?
   When the greeks and romans arrived, most people knew how to read and right so the language was used less and less.






































Post an example of the Rosetta Stone.
What is the Rosetta Stone? Where was it discovered?
   The rosetta stone was a slab of stone with inscriptions. It was discovered a few miles west of Rachid.
What three languages are included on the stone?
   The three languages were Egyptian Hieroglyphics, Demotic, and Greek.
Why couldn't the text on the Stone be deciphered?
   The text was not completed and there was a chunk missing.
Who finally deciphered the text? What was his breakthrough?
   Jean Francois Champollion. His breakthrough was when he matched the writing with those of The greek versions.
Why does the interpretation of the Rosetta Stone have such significance?
   The significance shows the advanced civilization of earlier economies.
   

Poster Brainstorm and creative progress

   Who is my audience?
Students and others with imaginative minds and fantastic artwork that they want to share with the world.

   What is the message that i want to get across?
Give those people the head start on a career that they will surely love. Peers in class.

   What colors and styles will i use?
Saturated and strong, inviting colors with decorative font. Also a little bit of calm colors.

Visual Organization

Not directing the audience through the design is misdirecting them.

   Eye Movement
1. The typical eye moves left to right and top to bottom.

2. Controlling eye movement within a composition is a matter of directing the natural scanning tendency of the viewer's eye.

3. The eye tends gravitate towards area of complexity first. In pictures of people, the yes is always attractive to the face and particularly the eye.

4. Light areas of the composition will attract to the eye, especially when adjacent to a dark area.

5. Diagonal lines or edges will guide eye movement.

   Optical Center
1. The spot where the human eye tends to enter the page. Optical center is slightly above mathematical center and just to the left.

2. It takes a compelling element to pull your eyes away from this spot.

   Z Pattern
1. Our visual pattern make a sweep of the page, generally, in the shape of a "Z".

2. Effective page design maps a viewer's route through the information. The designer's objective is to lead the viewer's eye to the important element or informations.

   Fonts
1. No more that two fonts within a page.

2. Fonts that complement each other. Avoid all caps unless necessary. Necessary matters are for attention grabers. Ex. Titles

3. Choose the right font.

4. Do not overuse fancy and complicated fonts. Ex. Scripts and calligraphy.

<http://www.typography.com\email\2010_032010_03\index.htm>.

   Visual Hierarchy
1.Establish Focal Points based on their importance.
2.A crucial part of design is establish an order of elements, a visual structure, to help the viewer absorb the  information.
3. What do i want my viewer to see first?
4. What do i want my viewer to see third?

   The Grid
1. way of organizing contents on a page. columns rows margins and guide lines all used.
2. Instituted by Modernism
3. can assist the audience by breaking information into manageable chunks and establishing relationships between text and images.
4. a grid consists of a distinct set of line based relationships that acts of guiders for distribution of elements.
5. every design is different so every design will have a different grid structure.
6. a grid is used to clarify the message being communicated and to unify the the elements.
7.

Cuneiform and the Sumerians 3,000 BC

   The Sumerians were one of the earliest types of this kind of civilization? What does that mean?
This means that this was the beginning of our written history.
   Why is the region of Sumer considered the Cradle of Civilization?
This is where cuneiform was created.
   What could the Sumerians practice year round because of the regions climate?
They were able to practice agriculture.   Post an example of early Cuneiform (Sumerian pictograph).
   Why was Cuneiform created?To help keep record of all business transaction.
   What medium was used to "write" Cuneiform? Explain the process of preparing and writing on this surface?
On clay tablets. The clay was wet, then flattened into sheets.  reed like object was used to write.
   What did Cuneiform begin as a series of?
A series of pictographs.  

 Post an example of evolved Cuneiform (wedge-shaped).
   After it evolved over time, what shape did the characters of Cuneiform evolve into?
The shapes became more wedged shaped language.  






























Post an example of Akkadian Cuneiform.
   After the Akkadians conquered, what happened to the Sumerian culture and written language?
they conquered the sumerians. The akkadians adopted their written language.
   What is a pictograph?
A pictorial or visual representation.
   Why did the creation of Cuneiform allow the Sumerians to become a sophisticated culture?
They were shown as a more developed species that were able to communicate fairly well.

Cave Paintings 35,000 years ago

What are cave paintings?
   Cave paintings are beautiful representations on the walls of caves.
Name several common themes found in cave paintings?
   Large animals and tracings of hands.
How were these paintings created (tools, pigments)?
   Mixing water, plant juice, animal blood, soil, charcoal, and hematite. Brushes were made from stones, animal hairs, leaves, and sticks.
What is the most famous cave painting site? When was it discovered and by whom?
  
 Lascaux is the most famous cave painting discovered by 4 teenage boys in the 1940's.
Why did this cave have to be closed? What was done to satisfy public curiosity?
   Its was closed because the wall paintings were being destroyed by Carbon dioxide. Tourists were satisfied when   Lascaux 2, a replica, was created.

In Altamira cave, why do most of the paintings have a red hue?
   They were made by red clay for paint.
Who discovered this site? How old are the paintings confirmed to be?   This site as discovered by amateur archeologist Marceline Sanz De Sautuola and his daughter Maria.

















What is the oldest known cave painting site? When was it discovered and by whom?

   The oldest cave painting site is Chauvet. It was discovered in 1994. The discoverers were 3 speleologist Eliette Brunell Deschamps, Christain Hillaire, and Jean-Marie Chauvet.
What was different about the painting techniques at this site?
   The difference in techniques were that the walls were scraped smooth for better artwork. Also 3d effects was created by etching around the edges of the work.













What is "speleology"?
   The science of searching enderground spaces.
What three reasons do archeologists and historians believe prehistoric man created cave paintings?   
   Tell a story.
   Instructional visual aids to teach hunting techniques. 
   For magical or religious purposes.