The Roman Alphabet | 7th century BC

What was the basis of the Roman uppercase alphabet?  

It refined several distinct styles of lettering which were used for different purposes.

What were the purposes of the formal and informal styles of lettering? 

Formal was used for important manuscripts and official documents; informal was used for letters and routine types of writing.

Why is the Roman alphabet the most widely used and what contributions did it make?

The creative of serifs and the institution of baseline in topography and penmanship 

From where did serifs originate?

In Ancient Italy from the carving of stones

When and where did lowercase, or minuscule, letters develop?  

During Ancient Roman times and in Rome

What is a ligature and why were they utilized?  

The running together of letters in manuscript; they were used to prevent a scratch at the end of the stone carving. 

Post an example of the Roman alphabet in visual form.

The Greek Alphabet | 800 BC

How did Greeks come in contact with the Phoenicians?  
The Phoenicians regularly traveled to Greece and traded with the Greeks.

How was the Greek adaptation of the alphabet different from its predecessor?  
The sounds and vowels were different than the Greek language use then so they had to adapt.

Why is the Greek alphabet considered to be the world's first true alphabet? 
 It has given rise to many other alphabets in the world as well as Latin.

Name several similarities and differences between the Greek and modern English alphabets? 
They both have vowels and consonants, and else they were both picked up or adapted into something else. A difference is that the Greek alphabet is not used as much today as it did centuries ago, but the English alphabet is still used. 

Post an example of the Greek alphabet in visual form.

The Phoenician Alphabet 1050 BC

The Phoenician alphabet is based on what principle? 

One sign represents one spoken sound.

Describe the shape of the letters and what tool created them? 

The letters were consonants and were shaped angular and straight; the letters were incised with a stylus.
  
What two reasons made the Phoenician alphabet so successful? 

It did not have as many complex characters as hieroglyphics and cuniform; also it let trade spread.

What long-term effects on the social structures of civilizations did the Phoenicians have with the creation of their alphabet? 

There was the first widespread Phonetic script and allows the common people to learn how to write so it disintegrated some class levels.

Post an example of the Phoenician alphabet in visual form.

Visual Organization

• Not directing an audience through a design is misdirecting them 

Eye Movement 

• The typical eye moves left to right and top to bottom
• Controlling eye movement within a composition is a matter of directing the natural scanning tendency of the viewer's eye 
• The eye tends to gravitate towards the areas of complexity first
• In pictures of people the eye is always attracted to the face and particularly the eyes
• Light areas of the composition will attract the eye, especially when adjacent to a dark area
• Diagonal lines or edges will guide eye movement

Optical Center

• The spot where the viewer's eye tends to enter the page; slightly above, or exact, mathematical center and just to the left
• It takes a very compelling element to pull your focus away

Z Pattern

• Our visual pattern makes a sweep of the page, generally in the shape of a "Z"
• Effective page design maps a viewer's route through the information; the designer's objective is to lead the viewer's eye to the to the important elements or information

Fonts

• Use no more than 2 fonts on a page or in a composition
• Make sure the fonts used compliment each other
• Avoid all uppercase letters unless it is absolutely necessary
• Choose the right font 
• Calligraphy shouldn't be used as body text
• Use www.typography.com/email/2010_03/index.htm to help pair fonts

• all design involves problem solving

• all the elements must come together to solve problem

The Grid

• organizing content on a page using any combination of margins, guide lines, rows, and columns
• can assist the audience by breaking info into manageable chunks and establishing relationships between text and images
• instituted by modernism
• a grid consists of a distinct set of alignment-based relationships that act as guides for distributing elements across a format
• every design is different; therefore every design will require a different grid structure - one that addresses the particular elements within the design
• a grid is used to help clarify the message being communicated and to unify the elements
• 
  

Cave Paintings | 35,000 years ago

What are cave paintings?

Beautiful, detailed, and colorful representations found on the inside of cave walls and ceilings 

Name several common themes found in cave paintings?
Large animals such as bison, horses, and deer; human hands; abstract patterns 

How were these paintings created (tools, pigments)? 
The paints were made from a mixture of water, plant juice, animal blood, soil, charcoal, and hematite. The brushes were a combination of sticks, small stones, leaves, and animal hair. 

What is the most famous cave painting site? When was it discovered and by whom?
 It is in Lascaux, France, and it was discovered by 4 teenage boys in 1940

Post an example of cave painting(s) from this cave.

Why did this cave have to be closed? What was done to satisfy public curiosity?
 Paintings were being damaged by carbon dioxide caused by tourists, the government made a replication

Post an example of cave painting(s) from Altamira cave.
 
In Altamira cave, why do most of the paintings have a red hue?

 

Who discovered this site? How old are the paintings confirmed to be?
Marcelino, A  frenchman, and his daughter Maria
 

What is the oldest known cave painting site? When was it discovered and by whom? 

Post an example of cave painting(s) from this cave.


What was different about the painting techniques at this site?

 

What is "speleology"?

 

What three reasons do archeologists and historians believe prehistoric man created cave paintings?