Summary
Life in Europe was pretty tough after the Roman Empire fell. Trade and commerce collapsed, travel was dangerous, and the educational system was so poor that kings and nobles couldn’t even write their own names. Nevertheless, the Middle Ages, as this era is known today, saw the rise of great military and political leaders, as well as amazing artistic, poetic, and architectural achievements. In this BrainPOP movie, Tim explains what life in Europe was like between 500 and 1500 C.E. You’ll hear about kings like Charlemagne and William the Conqueror, discover what the feudal system was all about, and find out why tens of thousands of men fought in religious wars called Crusades. So grab the nearest serf, head to your castle's computer room, and enjoy this movie!
Viewer safety
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Teaching resources
Discussion questions
A few questions to talk through after watching Middle Ages:
- What is one new thing you learned about middle ages?
- Can you explain it to a partner in your own words?
- Where might you see this in the real world?
- What is one question you still have?
Quick work-a-long
Try it:
- Write one sentence explaining middle ages.
- Draw or give one example of your own.