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Benito Mussolini

Dictator of Italy from 1922-1943. He epitomized all of the power of the [|Fascist] Party in himself. Mussolini's [|rise to power] involved him failing as both a school teacher and newspaper editor. Like his father he became a feverish socialist early on. He was initially supposed to be in the war but was injured in training to be a soldier. Upon returning he created this Fascist Party and organized the people into troops that terrorized political opponents. These groups were known as the [|Blackshirts]. They were asked to join the coalition government. Politics were slipping into chaos, and Mussolini was thought to be the one man who could restore peace. He used this power to make slowly dismantle the rest of the government, and made himself dictator. He went by the title "Il Duce." Benito Mussolini expanded the empire by taking over what is now known as Ethiopia. He provided military support to Franco in the Spanish Civil War. Increased contact with the Nazi party, and was influenced by Hitler to enforce an anti-Jewish legislation. In WW2 after Italy signed an armistice with the allies, Mussolini was overthrown.

Vasco de Gama [| Vasco de Gama] was a Portuguese explorer who discovered a trade route to the East. On July 8, 1497 he left Portugal and sailed down the cost of Africa. Da Gama's trip had many doubts because at that time it was believe that the Indian Ocean was secluded from any other oceans. On November 22 he rounded the Cape of Good Hope. After many stops in Africa with many Muslim Traders who didn't want interference with their trade, they finally reached Calicut, India on May 20, in 1498. At first the trading went well with the people of India, but eventually they demanded large taxes and he left for Portugal. Upon leaving Da Gama took with him both his goods, and some Indians. When he returned to Portugal he was well rewarded and treated like a king.

Titian - Meeting of Bacchus and Ariadne

Over a span of three years (1520-1523) Titian painted the masterpiece above. "[|Meeting of Bacchus and Ariadne] " was one of many mythological paintings done for Alfanso d'Este, the Duke of Ferrara. It was meant to be hung in one of his private rooms along with other paintings based on classical text. Although this is Titian's piece, the first outlines and sketches were done by Raphael who was wanted originally for the painting, and commissioned for it. But upon his death Titian replaced him. The image depicts Ariadne, stranded on the island of Naxos, left by Theseus. Bacchus arrives, leading his people, and leaps from his chariot being pulled by two cheetahs, towards her, as a result of his instantaneous love for her.

"Meeting of Bacchus and Ariadne" is a quintessential example of Renaissance Art. It includes all of the aspects of Medieval Art such as realism, classicism, perspective, chiaroscuro, sfumato, and pyramidal formation. The presence of realism is shown by the realistic features of the people setting and animals in the picture. The younger child has childlike features and doesn't just look like a small man, and the size of the people's features and sizes are proportional to one another. [|Chiaroscuro] and sfumato help show each of the wrinkles and crevices in the shapes of the peoples' bodies, and the perspective that is there. The painting produces a very believable affect that it extends backwards defying the one dimension of the canvas. Bacchus and Ariadne displays classicism through its realistic poses, and because it looks like an actual snippet from real life actions and motions. The painting does not display any religion, it focuses more on teaching the story of Ariadne and Bacchus, and therefore demonstrates humanism.