Medieval Europe - War of the Roses

The Young Oxford History of Britain & Ireland

Discussion:
Re-enactment of the War of the Roses
Attempt not to be completely confused.  Note apparent non-availability of names of English noblemen other than Edward, Henry, and Richard.

Activity:
History journal
(Re-enactment)

Medieval Europe - 100 Years War - Henry V and Joan of Arc

The Young Oxford History of Britain & Ireland
Joan of Arc by Diane Stanley
Joan of Arc by Josephine Poole and Angela Barrett

Discussion:
Henry V - Battle of Agincourt, premature death
Henry VI - king of England and France (kind of)
Joan of Arc fights for Charles VII

Activity:
Reenactments
History journal

Medieval Europe - Richard II

The Young Oxford History of Britain & Ireland

Discussion:
Richard II - poll tax revolt
Conflicts with the nobility
Henry Bolingbroke - deposing Richard, becoming Henry IV

Activity:
History journal
Monarchy tree

Medieval Europe - 100 Years War - Origin and Early Conflicts

The Young Oxford History of Britain & Ireland

Discussion:
English holdings in France in 1330
Edward III and the Black Prince - claims to the French throne
Battles of Crecy and Poitiers - English victories

Activity:
History journal
Map study
Re-enactments
English succession activity

Medieval Europe - Robin Hood and the Charter of the Forest

Bartholomew's World - Robin Hood and Robert Grosseteste
Read-aloud: Robin Hood  by Sarah Hayes

Discussion:
The Saladin tithe and other effects of the Crusades
Royal forest system - Robin Hood as hero
Charter of the Forest

Activity:
History journal
picture study - Robin Hood in the media

Medieval Europe - Magna Carta

Bartholomew's World - Magna Carta

Discussion:
Limiting monarchial power
Due process of law
Establishment of individual rights

Activity:
History journal
Reading the Magna Carta

Medieval Middle East - The Crusades - Third Crusade and Richard the Lionheart

Saladin: Noble Prince of Islam by Diane Stanley [Warning: This book is woefully one-sided]
The Crusades by Timothy Levi Biel

Discussion:
Call to the Third Crusade
Saladin's siege of Acre against Guy
Richard's campaigns against Saladin

Activity:
History journal
Map study

Medieval Europe - The 12th-Century Renaissance

Read-Aloud: The Lais of Marie de France, Arthurian Romances by Chretien de Troyes

Discussion:
"Re-birth" of the arts and sciences in Europe
Flowering of culture, trade, technology
Centralization of government, expansion of cities

Activity:
History journal
Picture study - works from the 12th and 13th centuries, major painters and writers of the era
Recover from medieval feast of last night

Medieval Europe - Music

On Secular Music and the texts of the songs presented
Read-Aloud: The Lais of Marie de France

Discussion:
Courtly love's influence on music
Types of musicians and music
Performance venues

Activity:
Listening to medieval music

Medieval Europe - Arthurian Romances and Courtly Love

Read Aloud: The Lais of Marie de France, Chretien de Troyes

Discussion:
Courtly love and chivalric ideals
Poetry based on King Arthur and his legends
Ideals of knighthood - modern ideas about the Middle Ages that persist from this time period

Activity:
History journal
Picture study: The Oxford History of Western Art

14th century depictions of Guenevere and Lancelot

19th century representations of courtly love:
John Keats, La Belle Dame sans Merci, and paintings
Leighton, God Speed! painting

Medieval Europe - Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine

Don't Know Much About the Kings and Queens of England by Kenneth C. Davis
Read Aloud: The Lais of Marie de France

Discussion:
Marriage as political alliance - France and England
Henry vs. Thomas Becket
Henry and Eleanor's children and their many disagreements

Activity:
History journal
Family tree

Medieval Europe - Norman Invasion

The story of the Norman invasion as told through the Bayeux Tapestry, evaluating primary sources (where does it come from?  Whose viewpoint is it? Is it reliable?)
Castles of the World by Gianni Guadalupe and Gabrielle Reina

Discussion:
Battle of Hastings
French influence on English language
William builds castles

Activity:
History journal
Map study - the invasion
Re-enactment of Battle of Hastings - Playmobil people

Medieval Europe - Anglo-Saxons

Beowulf by Michael Morpurgo and Michael Foreman
The Venerable Bede
Sutton Hoo Slideshow

Discussion:
Anglo-Saxon origins - Sutton Hoo artifacts
Bede and Alfred the Great
Viking influences

Activity:
History journal
Picture study