Form 1

Social studies
Worksheet 3 - Source analysis
Based on the origin, purpose and content of Source A, analyse the value and limitations of Source A
for an historian studying the art of glassmaking in the Early and High Middle Ages. Upload your
worksheet onto SIEWEB.

Source A. Johnston, R. (2011). All things medieval: an encyclopedia of the medieval world.
“Glassmaking technique during the Roman Empire had been sophisticated, and, in the
Mediterranean, the craft was uninterrupted by the fall of the empire. Vessels found from northern
Italy, Syria, and Constantinople include both blown and cut-glass techniques, in a range of colours,
both clear and opaque. (...) In Persia and Egypt, Islamic territories after the Muslim conquest in the
seventh century, glass technique continued to progress. They blew intricate vase shapes and used
molds, as they had in Roman times. They carved glass, creating a cameo effect when two colors were
blown in layers. From pottery technique, they borrowed luster painting, in which silver and gold were
enameled onto the surface by firing in a kiln. When Venice and Genoa began to dominate
Mediterranean trade, they brought finely made Persian and Egyptian glass to Western Europe. In
1204, the Fourth Crusade sacked and looted Constantinople, and the Venetians brought back many fi
ne pieces of glassware to their churches and palaces.” (pp. 295 - 316/812)

Value Limitations

Origin A limitation is that this success

Who is the author? The author of this source is happened hundreds of years
When was it published? Johnston R in 2011 ago so they have very little
testimonies.

Purpose It can be boring for some

Who was the author thinking Students or people who like lectors.
would read this? history or maybe on a
newspaper

Content To show us how ancient is the They don’t have pretty much
What is the main idea of the glass crafting information about this, because
source? this happened hundreds of
years ago