Late Medieval and Renaissance

1) Initial Post

Please choose one of the following  questions, and post your response of a minimum of 150 words. Be sure  that your comments are original, thoughtful, and well developed. This  discussion will be open for the whole course, so check back frequently:

1) Go Danteworlds  and read to find an area, and discuss one of Dante's circles of the  Inferno or Purgatorio. Discuss briefly (one or two sentences) what kind  of sin is there and what is the punishment or penance. Is it an  appropriate setup? Do you feel it is too harsh or too lenient, and  explain why? How would you change it to fit your answer, and fit the  modern time? (Now, I understand that people can get creative, so please  make sure to keep your language proper, and your responses relevant.  Also, keep your replies respectful.

Or

2) Some  have argued that the Renaissance would NOT have happened if the Medici  did not influence the arts. Discuss the Medici family's contributions to  humanist scholarship and art, and explain how the role of a patron  helps to promote the arts. Support your post with ideas found in the  etextbook and compare it to those found in your research.

Or

3) Visit the Lorenzo Ghiberti website (go to the next page on Brunelleschi as well)  and read up on the rivalry between Lorenzo Ghiberti and Filippo  Brunelleschi. The rivalry was born regarding the competition over the  decorative bronze doors on the Florentine Baptistery and how each of  them conducted themselves in this competition. Was Ghiberti being an  intelligent competitor, or dishonest? Did Brunelleschi overreact or was  his reaction appropriate? Choose one of these two artists and support  how your chosen artist acted in this competition as being the right way  to act. If you do not agree with how either acted in this competition,  please describe how you would have approached this competition if you  were one of the artists?