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History, Civics & Social Studies · Grade 7

Medieval and Early Modern Connections

Learners connect four medieval worlds: the manors and Church of western Europe, Byzantium, the Islamic caliphates and Tang–Song China. They trace how law, learning, printing and gunpowder moved between them, examine the Crusades as conflict and exchange, and argue whether the printing press caused the Reformation.

  • 4 lessons
  • About 105 minutes
  • Medieval connections check: 9 questions
  • Ways to answer: fill in the blanks, choose an answer, highlight a text, pin a map, match pairs and type a number
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What learners will discover

  • Explain how medieval European society was organized through manors, lord–vassal ties and the Church, and why historians debate the term 'feudalism'.
  • Describe Byzantium and the Islamic caliphates as centers of law, learning and trade, including Justinian's Code and Baghdad's House of Wisdom.
  • Explain Tang and Song Chinese innovations such as printing, gunpowder and the compass, and how printing later spread in Europe.
  • Analyze connections between regions (the Crusades, translation and trade) and argue about the role of printing in the Reformation.

Lessons

  1. Manors, lords and the Church 6 steps4 practiceabout 25 min
  2. Byzantium and the Islamic world 7 steps4 practiceabout 27 min
  3. Tang–Song China and the spread of printing 6 steps4 practiceabout 26 min
  4. Conflict, exchange and a causal question 6 steps3 practiceabout 27 min
  5. Medieval connections check 9 questions at the end

Keep exploring

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Guide for grown-ups