Foundation Unit
Research Links
Section 1: The Legacy of Ancient Greece and Rome
The Democratic Experiment
Brief history of democracy from its 6th century B.C. Greek origins to modern-day practices. Site includes links to further information on models of democracy, theories of government, and challenges to democracy.
The Legacy of Roman Ideas
Brief overview of the legacy of Roman philosophy, laws and institutional government.
Section 2: Judeo-Christian Tradition
Comparing and contrasting Judaism and Christianityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/ wiki/ Comparing_and_Contrasting_Judaism_and_Christianity
Article explaining the age-old dispute over whether Judaism and Christianity are fundamentally part of the same religious tradition or markedly different ones.
Section 3: Democratic Developments in England
Middle Ages: Age of Feudalism http://faculty.acu.edu/ ~appletonl/ mb1/ ma.htm
Site covering the progression of events in England from 1066 to 1485.
Divine Rights of Kings http://www.wsu.edu:8080/ ~dee/ GLOSSARY/ DIVRIGHT.HTM
Brief history of the Divine Right of Kings, a theory which argued that certain kings ruled because they were chosen by God to do so and that these kings were accountable to no person except God.
Magna Carta http://www.yale.edu/ lawweb/ avalon/ medieval/ magframe.htm
Copy of the 1215 document, including a glossary of definitions and terms.
NARA Exhibit Hall: Magna Carta http://www.archives.gov/ exhibits/ featured_documents/ magna_carta/
National Archives and Records Administration exhibit of the Magna Carta. Site includes information on what rights the 1215 document included, why it was written, and its lasting legacy in history.
Section 4: The Enlightenment and Democractic Revolutions
Social Contract http://www.constitution.org/ jjr/ socon.htm
Copy of The Social Contract written by Jean-Jacques Rousseau in 1762.
Liberty! The American Revolution http://www.pbs.org/ ktca/ liberty/ index.html
PBS Online site about the American Revolution. Links, essays, and interactive media on the chronicle of the revolution, perspectives on liberty, liberty today, as well as a revolutionary game.
Voltaire http://encarta.msn.com/ find/ Concise.asp?z=1& pg=2& ti=761575334
Biography of Voltaire (1694–1778), French writer and philosopher who was one of the leaders of the Enlightenment.
John Locke http://encarta.msn.com/ find/ Concise.asp?z=1& pg=2& ti=761563503
Biography of John Locke (1632–1704), English philosopher who founded the school of empiricism.
The Democratic Experiment
Brief history of democracy from its 6th century B.C. Greek origins to modern-day practices. Site includes links to further information on models of democracy, theories of government, and challenges to democracy.
The Legacy of Roman Ideas
Brief overview of the legacy of Roman philosophy, laws and institutional government.
Section 2: Judeo-Christian Tradition
Comparing and contrasting Judaism and Christianityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/ wiki/ Comparing_and_Contrasting_Judaism_and_Christianity
Article explaining the age-old dispute over whether Judaism and Christianity are fundamentally part of the same religious tradition or markedly different ones.
Section 3: Democratic Developments in England
Middle Ages: Age of Feudalism http://faculty.acu.edu/ ~appletonl/ mb1/ ma.htm
Site covering the progression of events in England from 1066 to 1485.
Divine Rights of Kings http://www.wsu.edu:8080/ ~dee/ GLOSSARY/ DIVRIGHT.HTM
Brief history of the Divine Right of Kings, a theory which argued that certain kings ruled because they were chosen by God to do so and that these kings were accountable to no person except God.
Magna Carta http://www.yale.edu/ lawweb/ avalon/ medieval/ magframe.htm
Copy of the 1215 document, including a glossary of definitions and terms.
NARA Exhibit Hall: Magna Carta http://www.archives.gov/ exhibits/ featured_documents/ magna_carta/
National Archives and Records Administration exhibit of the Magna Carta. Site includes information on what rights the 1215 document included, why it was written, and its lasting legacy in history.
Section 4: The Enlightenment and Democractic Revolutions
Social Contract http://www.constitution.org/ jjr/ socon.htm
Copy of The Social Contract written by Jean-Jacques Rousseau in 1762.
Liberty! The American Revolution http://www.pbs.org/ ktca/ liberty/ index.html
PBS Online site about the American Revolution. Links, essays, and interactive media on the chronicle of the revolution, perspectives on liberty, liberty today, as well as a revolutionary game.
Voltaire http://encarta.msn.com/ find/ Concise.asp?z=1& pg=2& ti=761575334
Biography of Voltaire (1694–1778), French writer and philosopher who was one of the leaders of the Enlightenment.
John Locke http://encarta.msn.com/ find/ Concise.asp?z=1& pg=2& ti=761563503
Biography of John Locke (1632–1704), English philosopher who founded the school of empiricism.