Medieval Europe

What this page covers

This unit sits in the strand The Medieval World, within History. The resources follow the Middle Ages from the end of the Western Roman Empire through to the late medieval period. Many are mind maps, so you can see how a topic hangs together at a glance. Quizzes, flashcard decks, notes, flowcharts and slide sets fill in the detail.

Where to start

Begin with the big picture. The mind map THE MIDDLE AGES sets out a chronology that starts with the Germanic conquest of Rome and the fall of the Western Roman Empire, then moves through the Early Middle Ages and the High Middle Ages. After that, try the quiz on the fall of the Roman Empire and the Early Middle Ages. It asks about the Roman emperors, the Senate and the way Roman society was divided.

Then go topic by topic

1. Read Vikings for ship building, religion, conquests and trade, and legacies.
2. Open The Carolingian Empire for Charles Martel, Pepin the Short and the Battle of Poitiers.
3. Use Medieval Europe Mind Map for the lives of serfs, the three field system and work on the land.
4. Look at Crusades for causes and effects, then Holy Roman Empire for the Investiture Controversy and the Golden Bull.
5. Finish with The Black Death, a quiz that begins with how the plague spread between people.

Using quizzes and maps together

Read a mind map first, then take a quiz on the same topic. Wrong answers show you which branches to read again. Flashcard decks such as Feudalism and Medieval Society: Castle,Church and City help you remember key terms. Some resources mention courses such as GCSE History, A-level History, AP European History and Junior Cycle History, so check that a resource matches what you are studying.

Where to go next

Choose one topic that feels shaky, open a map or quiz on it, and see how much you already know. Teachers can pick a ready-made quiz or deck to share with a class.