We are starting to read Othello in my World Literature class, and therefore we are doing background research to make sure we know what the story is about.
The Moors- Post Roman empire, the term moor refers to Arab speaking or Muslim people from North Africa, that we present in Spain for a long period of time (from 711-1492). The term was somewhat based on race, that is how it was usually used, to describe a dark skinned Arabic person."Shakespeak!" Shakespeak RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Apr. 2014. <http://shakespeak.edublogs.org/2009/09/17/moors/>.
The Venetians- The people of Venice, not much has changed since, except at the time of Shakespeare they were seen as a harsh resistance to the Ottoman Empire (Turkey). Venice itself was a strong city and was a cultural hearth.
credit: "Who Were the Venetians in Shakespeare Time?" WikiAnswers. Answers Corporation, n.d. Web. 30 Apr. 2014. <http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Who_were_the_Venetians_in_Shakespeare_time#slide=6>.
"Background for Shakespeare's Othello (Professor Jackson)." Background for Shakespeare's Othello (Professor Jackson). N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Apr. 2014. <http://courses.temple.edu/ihfaculty/ih51/FacultyforFaculty/othellobackground.htm>.
The Florentines- They were a "group" or "club" of intellectuals in Venice during the Renaissance in Florence. They had meetings to discuss cultural things such as music and drama. Largely interested by greek style, and even adopted it into their lives.
"Florentine Camerata." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 18 Apr. 2014. Web. 30 Apr. 2014. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florentine_Camerata>.
Cyprus is an island near to Turkey and Syria in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea.
"Background for Shakespeare's Othello (Professor Jackson)." Background for Shakespeare's Othello (Professor Jackson). N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Apr. 2014. <http://courses.temple.edu/ihfaculty/ih51/FacultyforFaculty/othellobackground.htm>.
The Turks- The Turks are people in the Ottoman Empire, that had control of much of modern day Western Asia and Southeastern Europe at the time of the play.
"Ottoman Turks." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 30 Apr. 2014. Web. 30 Apr. 2014. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ottoman_Turks>.
When and Why did all these people interact?
The Moors- Post Roman empire, the term moor refers to Arab speaking or Muslim people from North Africa, that we present in Spain for a long period of time (from 711-1492). The term was somewhat based on race, that is how it was usually used, to describe a dark skinned Arabic person."Shakespeak!" Shakespeak RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Apr. 2014. <http://shakespeak.edublogs.org/2009/09/17/moors/>.
The Venetians- The people of Venice, not much has changed since, except at the time of Shakespeare they were seen as a harsh resistance to the Ottoman Empire (Turkey). Venice itself was a strong city and was a cultural hearth.
credit: "Who Were the Venetians in Shakespeare Time?" WikiAnswers. Answers Corporation, n.d. Web. 30 Apr. 2014. <http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Who_were_the_Venetians_in_Shakespeare_time#slide=6>.
"Background for Shakespeare's Othello (Professor Jackson)." Background for Shakespeare's Othello (Professor Jackson). N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Apr. 2014. <http://courses.temple.edu/ihfaculty/ih51/FacultyforFaculty/othellobackground.htm>.
The Florentines- They were a "group" or "club" of intellectuals in Venice during the Renaissance in Florence. They had meetings to discuss cultural things such as music and drama. Largely interested by greek style, and even adopted it into their lives.
"Florentine Camerata." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 18 Apr. 2014. Web. 30 Apr. 2014. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florentine_Camerata>.
Cyprus is an island near to Turkey and Syria in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea.
"Background for Shakespeare's Othello (Professor Jackson)." Background for Shakespeare's Othello (Professor Jackson). N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Apr. 2014. <http://courses.temple.edu/ihfaculty/ih51/FacultyforFaculty/othellobackground.htm>.
The Turks- The Turks are people in the Ottoman Empire, that had control of much of modern day Western Asia and Southeastern Europe at the time of the play.
"Ottoman Turks." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 30 Apr. 2014. Web. 30 Apr. 2014. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ottoman_Turks>.
When and Why did all these people interact?