Optional Alternative Assignment

I have decided to offer an OPTIONAL assignment that can be used in place of your book review for this current six weeks. You can respond to one more blog question.  However, you must include proper citation for your research at the bottom of your post so that I know you actually did some research.  Use citationmachine.net and then go to APA 6th edition, website, and type in the info from the webpage(s) you used to get your information. It will generate the proper format for your citation.  Copy and paste this into the bottom of your post. CAUTION: All posts will be checked for plagiarism---> so do your own work! *No peer response is necessary*

Due Date:  11/10/11 Midnight

Topic:  Africa During the Middle Ages- Timbuktu

Nothing better denotes remoteness and mystery than Timbuktu. Your mother threatened to send you there if you didn't clean your room. Yet European explorers literally killed themselves in attempts to find the fabled city. Timbuktu certainly does exist. However, the mystery that drew those first European adventurers has diminished while Timbuktu's remoteness continues to increase.


During the Middle Ages, why did Europeans want to go to Timbuktu in Africa? What influence did Muslims have on Mali and Northern Africa? And why is Timbuktu still hard to get to today?

Week 6- The Roman Catholic Church

In Europe during the Middle Ages the only recognized religion was Christianity, in the form of the Catholic religion.  The lives of the Medieval people of the Middle Ages were consumed by the church. From birth to death, whether you were a peasant, a serf, a noble, a lord, or a King - life revolved around the church. Various religious institutions became both important, rich and powerful. The lives of many Medieval people were dedicated to the Catholic church and religion. Discuss why the Catholic Church became dominant both religiously and politically during the Middle Ages.  Was there corruption in the church? Do you think this was a true form of Christianity?


In your peer reviews this week I would like you to follow a different template.  You will write one thing you liked about someone else's post, one thing you wonder about that maybe they didn't describe or fully explain, and one suggestion or idea that would make their post better...it will look like this:


I liked..........
I wonder..........
I have an idea/suggestion..........