RKw

Benito Mussolini

[|Benito Mussolini] was a fascist dictator of Italy during 1922-1943. Although he failed to be elected during the 1919 elections, he entered the Parliament in 1921. After some liberal governments failed to stop the anarchy., the king asked him to form a government. He did so, censoring many things and fixing the next elections so that he would remain ruler. He made sure that there was no opposition to him by spreading effective [|propaganda] as well taking ruthless measures against his opponents. He would take over various departments of governments, and was also the head of the powerful Fascist party. While in power, he made [|Fascism] the major idea in Italy, censoring ideas that went against his ideas. In the 1920s and the 1930s, he virtually abolished the Parliament, rewrote law codes, and made teachers swear oaths to defend Fascism. He also made sure that journalists were approved by the Fascist party. Economically, he transferred the ownership of industry from public to private ownership. Later on, he began to make Italy an aggressively nationalist country. Eventually, he joined WW2 on Hitler's side.

[|Vasco de Gama] Vasco de Gama was born to the explorer Estevao in Sines, Portugal. On July 8th, 1497, Gama sailed from Lisbon, Portugal, to the East, supporter by his patron King Manuel I of Portugal. On November 22nd, he rounded the Cape of Good Hope and continued to India, having problems with Muslim traders on the way, and finally landed on Calicut, India on May 20, 1498. After trading, Gama was told to pay a large tax and leave all his cargo. Gama disregarded their demands and left with all his trading goods intact, taking some Indian hostages for extra measure. When he returned in September 1499, he was hailed as a hero and rewarded by the king. In 1502, King Manuel sent (newly made) Admiral Gama to India again, taking 20 armed ships in order to demonstrate his power over the Muslims that would trouble him. After King Manuel's death, he was sent to India again as a viceroy.

Raphael - Madonna of the Meadow This serene painting, painted by Raphael during the early 1500s, depicts Madonna with baby Jesus and John. Madonna is shown tenderly watching over both of them, while baby Jesus is reaching toward the cross that John has proffered to him. The blue robe that she wears symbolizes the Church (spirituality), and the red (humanity), Jesus's death. The poppy plants also symbolizes the Christ's passion, death, and resurrection. The background also contains much depth, as well as the artistic techniques Chiaroscuro and Sfumato, and the main subjects are characterized with halos. Overall, they have the nature of a classical style of art, which was common during the time. In addition, Madonna, John, and Jesus (as well as the rest of the scene) are drawn realistically, unlike the Middle Ages art where they drew babies like little men.[| Pyramidal formation] is evident, with the two babies in the shadow of the mother. This painting shows that religion was important even in the Italian Renaissance. This painting shows humanism in its freedom to draw the artist's (or the sponsor's) opinion of things. Apparently, Madonnas were Raphael's favorite type of painting to paint. As mentioned before, it shows that religion was still important, but not so that it ruled their lives. It was created with oil tempera and painted on wood. The Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna is currently in possession of this painting. [] [|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madonna_del_Prato_(Raphael)] [] []