Middle Ages and Islam
Agenda
• Bellringer
(10 min)
• Discuss Rome’s Fall
(5 min)
• Notes
(30 min)
• Black Death Map Analysis
(10 min)
• Stained Glass Windows
(35 min)
• Everyday Bellringer Question
• Explain how the artifact you
created/photographed/found
is representative of one of
the civilizations we studied
yesterday.
Academic Vocabulary
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Islam
Medieval Europe
Middle Ages
Feudalism
Crusades
Black Death
Hundred Years War
Great Schism
Magna Carta
The Fall of Rome
• When Rome fell,
Western Europe
became more chaotic
and poorer.
• This time in history in
known as the Middle
Ages.
The Medieval Catholic Church
 The Catholic Church
provided political and
social order.
 The Catholic Church
provided schools and
preserved knowledge
from the Greeks and
Romans.
 The Church was often the
most powerful institution
in Medieval Europe.
Feudalism
A political, economic, and social
system based on loyalty and
military service.
Feudalism
• Peasants (regular
people)worked, paid
taxes, and provided
soldiers. In return, they
received protection.
• Life for peasants was
extremely difficult.
The Great Schism
• 1054 – Christianity
splits into the Roman
Catholic Church in the
West and the Orthodox
Church in the East.
Rome v. Avignon
Magna Carta, 1215
 King John I
 “Great Charter”
 monarchs were not
above the law.
kings could not tax
without a reason.
The Crusades
• A series of wars between
Muslims and Christians that
lasted from 1095 A.D. until
1291 A.D.
• The goal was to conquer the
“Holy Land”.
• The wars increased hatred
and distrust between
Muslims and Christians.
The Hundred Years War
• French King Charles IV died
in 1328 with no male heir.
• Two men attempted to
claim the vacant throne
– Edward III of England, son-inlaw of Charles IV
– Philip of Valois, nephew of
Charles
• English armies attacked
France
The Consequences of the
Hundred Years War
• New weapons like
cannons and arrows
eliminated the need for
knights.
• Feudalism started to go
away because Kings
became more powerful
than the nobles.
Deaths
35% - 70% of
European died.
25,000,000 dead
(est.) !!!
The Black Death
• 1347-1351.
• The Black Death was
spread by ticks on rats.
• The Black Death spread
because of trade.
Effects of the Black Death
• Art became obsessed
with death. Dark and
filled with suffering.
• Religion became more
important as people
were searching for
answers.
What is Islam?
• Islam is a monotheistic
religion that began in
Saudi Arabia.
• Islam means
“submission to God”
• Islam is also a way of
life.
Muhammad
 Muslims believe and
respect in all of the
important figures from the
Torah and Bible- Abraham,
Moses, Jesus, etc.
 The Prophet Muhammad
(from Mecca), however, is
their most important
figure as he is seen as
God’s last messenger, with
his most important
message.
The Spread of Islam
• Muhammad returned to
Mecca in 628 and
conquered the city in 629.
• Muhammad died in 632.
• By the year 650, his
followers had conquered
most of the Middle East.
Why did Islam spread so quickly?
• Islam provided a sense
of unity for many Arabs.
• Muslim armies were
better organized,
armed, and motivated.
• Islamic laws were seen
as an improvement of
previous systems.
Map Analysis
• Recreate the map.
• Answer two questions.
1. Which parts of Europe
were least affected by
the Black Death?
2. Why do you think
these parts of Europe
were less affected?
Stained Glass Windows
• In Europe, a large
percentage of the
population was illiterate
(can’t read or write).
• As a result, pictures were
used to tell important
stories and lessons.
• Your assignment is to create
a stained glass window that
teaches about one of
today’s important topics:
Christianity, Feudalism,
Crusades, Black Death,
Hundred Years War, Great
Schism.
• Your window must have
sections and all team
members must contribute.
Examples of Stained Glass Windows
Examples of Stained Glass Windows
Examples of Stained Glass Windows