Answering these questions enables you to relate material from the text to your own personal experiences.
Locate an architectural example of “the aristocratic style” in your own town or city. What kind of public events are held in this environment? In what ways does the decor contribute to an elitist style?
Would you say the “aristocratic style” was limited to Europe, or was there an “aristocratic style” in Africa, say, or the Americas? If so, it what ways were such styles different or similar?
Visit a local art museum, bank, or university administrative building that houses portraits of notable individuals. What features of the aristocratic style are evident in these portraits? What about the portraits on US currency?
Investigate: How did the “garden plan” seen at Versailles influence the city plans of Paris and Washington, D.C.?
