A Little Bit of Help for the Test

1. The Middle Ages began with the fall of the Roman empire and ended with the Renaissance. (Years vary according to the historical source but generally it happened around 500 AD to 1500 AD-- about 1,000 years.)

2. The western half of the Roman empire was invaded by various barbarian tribes. The term "gothic" comes from the Goths. During the early part of the Middle Ages, barbarian attacks were common. This time period is sometimes referred to as the "Dark Ages".

3. The eastern half of the Roman empire continued to develop under leaders like Justinian I. His empire was called the Byzantine Empire and lasted more than 1,000 years. A beautiful domed building called the Hagia Sophia was built during this time.

4. Charlemagne was a great king that ruled the Kingdom of the Franks. (Germany/France)
Remember our song? He wanted to expand and improve his whole empire. He encouraged learning and loved books.

5. Vikings, also known as Norsemen, came from the countries now known as Norway, Sweden, and Denmark. They were fierce invaders. England at that time wasn't one country. There were several smaller kingdoms and vulnerable to Viking attacks. For about 300 years, Vikings ruled much of England.

6. During the first 600 years of the Middle Ages, there were many battles, and many rulers as they battled over land. Parts of Europe settled into large kingdoms and England was one of those places. After the Battle of Hastings, William conquered more and more land. In 1066, he was crowned King of England. He was also known as William the Conqueror.

7. King Richard I of England is better known as Richard the Lionheart. The name Lionheart stands for bravery, loyalty, and chivalry.

8. Study the notes you took in class and read the chapters in your social studies books.

Essay Question #1

Why should a sixth grade student care about the events of the Middle Ages? (Hint: Did the events and attitudes during the Middle Ages affect how people felt about kings/nobles, freedom, land, station in life (feudal hierarchy), laws, rights, and even coming to America much later? How does that apply or affect a sixth grader in the 21st century?)

Essay Question #2

What did you learn from the castle assignment? [Hint: Was it REALLY about knowing the parts of a castle or was the assignment actually about skills you need in life? If so, what were they?]