World History of the Dance / Spring 2025

     I Unit: Medieval Times Theme: Europe and Japan   Introduction In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the late 5th to the late 15th centuries, similar to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire and transitioned into the  Medieval period, the Renaissance and the Age of Discovery.   II Learning Objectives   Understand the importance of the Middle Ages after the fall of the Roman Empire Explain the role of dance in upper and lower social classes in Medieval society Gain an awareness of the differences between profane and sacred dances across times Realize the impact of Catholicism on the syncretic festivals that emerged in the Americas  Experience the main steps of a Medieval dance scene     III Main Lesson     1 Middle Ages   Question 1 Which events are important during the Middle Ages?   2 Profane Dances ...

   I Unit: Classic Period Elsewhere Theme: Mesoamerica, India & China   Introduction Often classical antiquity refers to a historical period spanning from the output of ancient Greek author Homer in the 8th century bce to the decline of the Roman Empire in the 5th century ce. Seldomly, do we refer to the classical period that took place in other parts of the world. Today's class focuses on the classical periods in Mesoamerica, India and China.    II Learning Objectives   Understand the importance of the classical period in other parts of the world Explain the meaning of the term "classical" and why it can be applied to the cultures of Mesoamerica, India and China Gain an awareness of the differences between these three classical cultures Realize the impact of the classical periods in these three areas of the world on their present cultures  Experience the main steps of the dances representative of these three cultures and their classical peri...

  I   Minoan Crete   (7000 BCE - 1500 BCE)   The Minoan palaces show evidence of destruction by earthquake c. 1700 BCE, after which they were rebuilt.  The palaces were well-appointed, monumental structures with large courts, colonnades, staircases, religious crypts, light-wells, drainage systems, extensive storage magazines for large ceramic pithoi containers, and even 'theatre' areas for public spectacles.  The complexity of these palaces, the sport of bull-leaping, the worship of bulls as indicated by the presence throughout of sacred bulls' horns and depictions of double axes (or labrys ) all probably gave rise to the legend from Greek mythology of King Minos, ruler of Knossos, and the Athenian hero Theseus who killed the minotaur which dwelt in the labyrinth of the same city.  Other features of the Minoan  religion besides bulls include the prominence of Nature and fertility goddesses, best seen in voluptuous faience figurines ho...