Term 4 WK1: Othello Pre-Reading Research Activity

1.     Venice

Venice is located in northeast Italy. In the 16^th century the Venetians were at war with the Turks which are also now as belonging to the Ottoman Empire. Venice also had a critical population drop around 1575-76 due to the plague. Venice after losing Crete to the Turks it turned instead to becoming one of Europe’s most popular tourist attractions and an important musical center. In this time several manufactures helped boost Venice’s economy including silk, wool textiles, Venetian glass, sugar, soap textiles. Venice had once been known for their monopoly of spices but they were no longer because of the Portuguese, but art flourished in Venice instead. The relationship between Venetians and the Turkish was a poor one as they were at war in this era, the reason for their conflict was to control the Mediterranean Sea. The Mediterranean Sea was an important asset in the 16^th century as it was the international center for trade especially as many products were imported from Asia to Europe by sea. 

Map of Venice

2.   Cyprus

  

Cyprus is an island in the Eastern Mediterranean Sean, East of Greece, south of Turkey and north of Egypt. It was the 3^rd largest island in the sea. Cyprus was considered value to conquerors as it represented an important trade center in Europe. The Ottoman Empire’s conquest of Cyprus coincided with the gradual stagnation of the Near Eastern economy due to the discovery of the Atlantic trade. The politics of the countries nearest to it were tense as Venice and the Turkey were at war. Cyprus is approximately 2100 kilometres away from Venice in Italy.

Map of Cyprus and Europe

 3.     Moors

 Moor refers to the descendants of Islamic Arabic inhabitants of North Africa who conquered Spain in the eighth century. The majority had dark coloured skin.Moors originated from North Africa, they lost their land and weren’t in rule in any country. They migrated to Europe and they were forced to hide their religious identities and many were forced to turn to Christianity. The religion associated with moors was the Muslim faith.

4.   Turks.

 The Elizabethan attitude to foreigners in general was that they were to be mistrusted. They were seen to be outsiders like ‘alien’ race. 

 5.     Epilepsy.

Epilepsy is a diverse set of chronic neurological disorders characterized by seizures. The symptom associated with is long term recurrent seizures. People who suffered from Epilepsy in the 16^th century were view as outcasts; they were shunned from society as doctors in this time still did not understand what it was. In the 16^th century it was thought that Epilepsy was contagious to others causing the victims to be seen as nearly not part of society at all. Epileptics are vulnerable to certain conditions which could possibly render a seizure including alcohol, flashing or flickering lights, emotional stress and sleep deprivation.