Grade 6 Social Studies
Western Europe in the Middle Ages
Reading Responses
Name ____________________________________________________________ Date__________
For FRIDAY 2/14/14: SECTION 1
Please read pages 1-7 and answer the questions as shown below:
Page 1:
1. Who was Eleanor?
Page 2: The Germanic Kingdoms
1. How were the Germanic Kingdoms ruled?
2. What were the Dark Ages?
3. Describe life during the Dark Ages?
Page 3: Europe in the Early Middle Ages
1. Why was farming difficult on the Great European Plain?
2. How did farmers learn to farm on the plain?
Page 4: The Franks
1. What did Charlemagne accomplish?
2. How did Charlemagne support learning?
Page 5: The Angles, Saxons and Jutes
1. What happened to Roman civilization in Britain?
2. How did Christianity come to Britain?
Page 6: The Dane invade England
1. What happened when the Great Army invaded Wessex?
2. Why Alfred was called Alfred the Great?
3. What did Alfred do to improve learning in England?
Page 7: The Vikings
1. Why did the Vikings turn to the sea to make a living?
2. What lands did the Vikings discover?
END OF SECTION 1
For MONDAY 2/17/14: SECTION 2
Please read pages 8-13 and answer the questions as shown below:
Page 8: Church and Manor
1. What rules do monks and nuns live by?
2. How did monks and nuns keep learning alive during the Middle Ages?
Page 9: The Church in the Middle Ages
1. What might happen to people who broke church rules?
2. Describe the conflict between King Henry IV and Pope Gregory VII.
Page 10: Feudalism
1. What was feudalism?
2. Describe the three classes that developed under feudalism?
Page 11: Life on a Manor
1. What were the duties of the lord of the manor? How about the lady of the manor?
2. What kind of work did the peasants do?
Page 12: Rise of Nations of Europe
1. Why did the townspeople resent the rule of the nobles?
2. How did kings gain power over nobles?
Page 13: England becomes a Nation
1. How did William the conqueror become King of England?
2. What was the Great Council?
3. How did Henry II change the court system in England?
END OF SECTION 2