Embedded Files
Content
HSS Framework for Rome and Christendom, 300 CE to 1200 (CH. 11, pp. 185-194) Roman Empire, Development and Spread of Christianity, Medieval Europe, Sicily ~ 4 weeks
Students analyze the causes and effects of the vast expansion and ultimate disintegration of the Roman Empire. (7.1)
Students analyze the geographic, political, economic, religious, and social structures of the civilizations of Medieval Europe. (7.6)
California Common Core State Standards: English Language Arts & Literacy in History/Social Studies, Science, and Technical Subjects (CDE pp. 65-69, 79-82, 84-89)
Inquiry
How did the environment and technological innovations affect the growth and contraction of the Roman Empire, the Byzantine Empire, and Medieval Christendom? What impact did human expansion have on the environment?
How did the Roman Empire gain and maintain power over people and territories?
Did the Roman Empire fall?
How did the religion of Christianity develop and change over time? How did Christianity spread through the empire and to other cultures?
How did the decentralized system of feudalism control people but weaken state power?
Literacy and Learning Activities
Pre- or post-assessment - The Aeneid by Virgil
(make a copy in google docs and revise as needed)
This can be given as a pre-assessment or an end of unit assessment.
40 Maps that Explain the Roman Empire: This site will help students understand the spread of Christianity.
Expansion, Achievements, and Fall of Rome
Content:
Study the early strengths and lasting contributions of Rome and its ultimate internal weaknesses. (7.1.1)
Inquiry:
How did the environment and technological innovations affect the growth and contraction of the Roman Empire...?
What impact did human expansion have on the environment?
How did the Roman Empire gain and maintain power over people and territories?
Lesson:
Read about Roman achievements (Use Holt ch.2 sec.1 "The Roman Empire" or website)
Pairs record information about the achievements and record information on the Lasting Achievements of the Roman Empire matrix
Respond: Which three achievements do you think were the most long-lasting? Respond with your claim using evidence and reasons from what you read.
C3 Teachers "Fall of Roman Empire"
Content:
Study the early strengths and lasting contributions of Rome and its ultimate internal weaknesses. (7.1.1)
Discuss the geographic borders of the empire at its height and the factors that threatened its territorial cohesion. (7.1.2)
Inquiry: (How) Did the Roman Empire fall?
Student Outcomes: Through investigating historical and geographic evidence as well as secondary sources about the Roman Empire, students will...
list and describe the characteristics and attributes of the Roman Empire.
write a summary explaining accepted reasons for why Roman Empire fell.
develop a claim supported by evidence about the extent to which the fall of Rome reflected swift and abrupt changes.
develop a claim supported by evidence about the extent to which Rome slowly transformed rather than fell.
develop a complex interpretation of the demise of the Roman Empire and evaluate the extent to which the empire “fell.”
Lessons:
What made the Roman conquests an empire?
Why did the Roman Empire fall?
Was the Roman Empire’s fall an abrupt change?
To what extent did the Roman Empire transform?
Citizenship: Research and discuss the ways in which the United States is an empire. Determine the state of the United States’ empire and whether it is rising or falling. Invite a local expert (e.g., scholar, political scientist, anthropologist, politician) to lead a panel discussion by students on the international status of the United States.
Citizenship and Extension
How does the preservation or destruction of monuments impact the narrative of a region?
1. Explore how Constantinople looked at its height: http://www.byzantium1200.com/hipodrom.html
2. "Isis Destroys Ancient Ruins of Palmyra"
3. Should Schools Be Named for Confederate Leaders?
4. Who's Heritage? Public Symbols of the Confederacy
6. Confederate Memorials and the Unjust Geography of Memory
7. 3 Angles to the Confederate Monument Controversy
Extension: Monument Project
Content: Christendom (Europe during the Early Middle Ages)
Understand the development of feudalism, its role in the medieval European economy, the way in which it was influenced by physical geography, and how feudal relationships provided the foundation of political order. (7.6.3 )
Demonstrate an understanding of the conflict and cooperation between the Papacy and European monarchs (e.g., Charlemagne, Gregory VII, Emperor Henry IV) (7.6.4).
Know the significance of developments in medieval English legal and constitutional practices and their importance in the rise of modern democratic thought and representative institutions (e.g., Magna Carta, parliament, development of habeas corpus, an independent judiciary in England) (7.6.5).
Discuss the causes and course of the religious Crusades and their effects on the Christian, Muslim, and Jewish populations in Europe, with emphasis on the increasing contact by Europeans with cultures of the Eastern Mediterranean world (7.6.6).
Learning Activities
The First Amendment and Freedom of Religion
In this Teaching Tolerance lesson, students will use the case of Park51’s Islamic Cultural Center as a starting point for a discussion about whether religious freedom is absolute and if religious freedom requires respect for other religions. If you do not wish to teach this lesson here, it will also work in the Southwest Asia and Islam unit.
Objectives: Activities will help students:
Define and understand religious freedom
Essential Questions:
What is religious freedom?
Is religious freedom absolute?
Does freedom of religion require respect for other religions?
Extend: Organize a Religious Diversity Day in your school district where all students, teachers and administrators can learn about different religious customs and traditions. You can even invite guest speakers from your community to join in.
Engage - Preparing the Learner
Experiencing European Feudalism, Experiential Exercise, TCI (1997)
Inquiry: What important changes took place in Europe after Rome fell?
Lesson:
Read closely and annotate each segment of the "Development of Feudalism in Western Europe," TCI (Teacher's Curriculum Institute, 1997).
Primary Source: Einhard, Life of Charlemagne - factors for Charlemagne's success
Extend: Descendants of Alfred the Great - British Royal Family Tree
Managing Nature's Bounty: Feudalism in Medieval Europe
(you will need an EEI password)
Content: Understand the development of feudalism, its role in the medieval European economy, the way in which it was influenced by physical geography, and how feudal relationships provided the foundation of political order. (7.6.3 )
Inquiry: How did the environment and technological innovations affect the growth and contraction of the Roman Empire, the Byzantine Empire, and Medieval Christendom? What impact did human expansion have on the environment? How did the decentralized system of feudalism control people but weaken state power?
Learning Outcome: Explain how feudalism was influenced by Europe's physical geography and evaluate the extent in which the feudal system impacted the ecosystem goods and the ecosystem services in medieval Europe.
Lessons:
Managing California's Resources
Introducing Feudalism
Life on the Manor
To Market, To Market
Of Nobles and Outlaws
Crusades
Content: Discuss the causes and course of the religious Crusades and their effects on the Christian, Muslim, and Jewish populations in Europe, with emphasis on the increasing contact by Europeans with cultures of the Eastern Mediterranean world.
Lessons:
"Burning of the Jews", an illustration from the Nuremberg Chronicle by Hartmann Schedel (1440-1514). Source.
C3 Teachers: "Black Death"
Engage/Prepare the Learner:
Analyze Schedel's detail: Image Analysis Form_Quadrants or 4Cs Visual Historical Source Analysis
Content: Map the spread of the bubonic plague from Central Asia to China, the Middle East, and Europe and describe its impact on global population (7.6.7).
Inquiry: Can disease change the world?
Lessons:
What was the Black Death?
How did the Black Death spread so quickly?
How did the Black Death affect people in the 14th century?
Learning Outcomes: Students will...
describe the Black Death and includes its symptoms and where outbreaks occurred in Europe and Asia (Source needed: Decameron).
students consider the causes, symptoms, and reasons for the rapid geographic expansion of the Black Death and construct a summary and diagram illustrating how the Black Death spread.
Create an annotated illustration depicting how the Black Death affected different groups of people in the 14th century.
Through their investigation of sources in this inquiry, students should develop an understanding of the consequences of the Black Death and an informed awareness of the importance of preparing for future diseases and possible pandemics.
Construct an argument (e.g., detailed outline, poster, essay) that discusses the impact of the Black Death using specific claims and relevant evidence from historical sources while acknowledging competing views that people had about the nature of the Black Death in the 14th century.
Citizenship: Find current examples of how we prevent, detect, and minimize the spread of diseases in homes, schools, and communities (e.g., washing hands, vaccinations). Think of at least one way we might improve the prevention or control the spread of diseases in homes, schools, and communities. Create a public service announcement to advocate for improved methods of prevention, detection, and control of diseases (see student sample on the left).
Common Core Reading Standards for History-Social Science:
RH1 Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of primary and secondary sources.
RH2 Determine the central ideas or information of a primary or secondary source; provide an accurate summary of the source distinct from prior knowledge or opinions
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