Theme 1: The Mediterranean World
The rise of Athens in the late 6th century and early 5th century BCE not only ushered in the Classical Age, but it went on to influence European and Western culture for thousands of years.
Solon laid the basis for democracy through eliminating debt slavery.
Cleisthenes furthered democracy first by ousting a tyrant (Hippias, with Sparta’s help), and by a series of reforms in which he established administrative units called tribes made up of thirds from a different areas of Attica: city, hills, and coast. His reform made Athenians belong primarily to a unit that was spread around Attica. Hence it was more difficult for influential families to build up geographical power-bases.
Under Pericles, what is referred to as radical democracy took shape. The assembly and the law courts had ultimate authority and there was no property requirement for most offices (think about why this was important). Pericles also introduced tenure, pay for civic service. No single other reform furthered democracy as much as pay for service. Now many more people could afford to serve, not just the rich.
Adapted from: http://www.uvm.edu/~jbailly/courses/clas21/notes/atheniandemocracy.html
Video on reforms of Solon and Cleisthenes (10m):
Video on the contributions of Pericles to the Golden Age of Athens (4 mins):
Crash course: Roman Empire:
CC-The-Roman-Empire-Or-Republic-Or-Which-Was-It-CCWH-10
Chapter 2: The Medieval Mediterranean
This chapter studies a place of contact between three civilisations: Judaism, Islam and Christianity.
From Eastern Eastern Romand Empire to Byzantine Empire
Excerpt from History.com:
The Byzantine Empire was a vast and powerful civilization with origins that can be traced to 330 A.D., when the Roman emperor Constantine I dedicated a “New Rome” on the site of the ancient Greek colony of Byzantium. Though the western half of the Roman Empire crumbled and fell in 476 A.D., the eastern half survived for 1,000 more years, spawning a rich tradition of art, literature and learning and serving as a military buffer between Europe and Asia. The Byzantine Empire finally fell in 1453, after an Ottoman army stormed Constantinople during the reign of Constantine XI.
Click on link and scroll down to video about Constantinople and link to discovery of the Americas:
https://www.history.com/topics/ancient-middle-east/byzantine-empire
Video on the Hagia Sophia:
The Crusades
From History.com
The Crusades were a series of religious wars between Christians and Muslims started primarily to secure control of holy sites considered sacred by both groups. In all, eight major Crusade expeditions—varying in size, strength and degree of success—occurred between 1096 and 1291. The costly, violent and often ruthless conflicts enhanced the status of European Christians, making them major players in the fight for land in the Middle East.
What makes Jerusalem so holy? Link to BBC News Article:
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-26934435
PowerPoint:
Crusades and Holy Land Explanation
Summary of The Crusades Video:
- There were numerous crusades between 1095 and 1291.
- They have been heavily romanticized over time, however prior to the 11th century, Islamic dynasties had slowed Christian pilgrims to visit the Holy Land if they paid a tax.
- However by the late 11th century a new Islamic Empire had been established (the Seljuk Turks) who threatened to also overrun the Byzantine Empire (name of the Roman Empire in the East, based in Constantinople).
- Pope Urban II called on the peoples of Europe to go on a Holy Pilgrimage to help the Byzantine Empire and then to free Jerusalem.
- The main motivation among the primarily poor people who went on this Crusade seems to have been religion – they were called to protect Christ and his Kingdom.
- The First Crusade lasted from 1096 to 1099 and led to the establishment of 4 Crusader Estates (Kingdom of Jerusalem, County of Edessa, Principality of Antioch and the County of Tripoli).
- There were many subsequent Crusades through to 1291 including (most famously) the Third Crusade which aimed to reconquer Jerusalem as it had been invaded by the Islamic ruler Saladin.
MINI ESSAY ON THE CRUSADES
Using all of the sources and your own knowledge, how far do you agree with the view the main aim of the Crusaders in 1099 was to occupy Jerusalem?
HELP WITH WRITING THE ESSAY
Introduction (with a thesis statement in which you set out the argument you will make)
Development (One, two, three paragraphs etc in which you develop and justify your argument)
Conclusion (in which you restate the thesis, summarize the arguments you have made and add a final thought)
Understanding the question:
How far do you agree means you must decide if you strongly agree, partially agree (e.g. agree to an extent) or don’t agree at all with the opinion expressed.
VIEW means the statement/opinion which follows
AIM means objective or goal
PROPOSED INTRODUCTION (written with contributions from the class):
The Crusades took place between 1095 and 1099 following the appeal of the emperor of Byzantium to Pope Urban II for help in defeating the Seljuk Turks who were a Muslim army which threatened his Empire. The Crusaders, who numbered 30 000, had various motives for responding to Urban’s call for people to join a battle to drive back the Muslims. The people who went on this crusade were told they would be forgiven their sins and would go straight to heaven if they died whilst fighting, others saw it as an opportunity to increase their wealth. This work argues the main aim was not initially to occupy Jerusalem, but this became the objective as the crusaders progressed on from Constantinople.
Role of Venice
In the High Middle Ages, Venice became extremely wealthy through its control of trade between Europe and the Levant, and it began to expand into the Adriatic Sea and beyond.
Text and resources:
The Venetian Republic worksheetcolour
Examen Blanc from December 2023: 2°BFI DEC 2023 EXBa
The 15th and 16th Centuries
This second theme covers the opening of the Atlantic results from the discovery of the ‘New World’ and includes a study of the Renaissance, Humanism and Religious Reforms.
Click below to see the Theme Outline and D.N.L vocabulary:
Resources for the Opening of the Atlantic:
This is the key text used for the first part of the theme:
The Columbian Exchange and Global Trade
Mercantilism
Mercantilism formative assessment
These Powerpoint presentations summarize the main ideas studied:
A further component of this theme is the Spanish conquest of South America and their encounter with the Aztecs:
Video links:
The encomiendas system and the Valladolid debate:
Held in the Colegio de San Gregorio, in the Spanish city of Valladolid, this was a moral and theological debate about the conquest of the Americas, its justification for the conversion to Catholicism, and more specifically about the relations between the European settlers and the natives of the New World.
AP History 1 minute summary introduction:
Spain builds a colonial empire worksheet
Short video on this debate:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2kDOiztlQw
The Renaissance, Humanism and the Reformation
These documents and Powerpoint look at why the Renaissance began and some of its key components:
Hand out: 7.4 Renaissance
Introduction PPT: Renaissance Overview
The European History Crash course episode on the Renaissance:
Video about Gutenberg and the influence of the printing press:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIUEEmYo8DU&t=132s
Renaissance Essay Help PowerPoint:
Organizing your Renaissance Essay
2°BFI Renaissance Essay plan with Intro
The Reformation
An introductory Powerpoint which acts as a good starter about Martin Luther and the differences between Catholicism and Protestantism:
The European History Crash course episode on the Reformation:
Transcript of this video: The Protestant Reformation TranscriptA
Example of Student spider diagram: PROT REFORMATION
Student spider diagram detailing responses to Luther and the difference branches of Christianity following the Reformation:
Responses to Luther Spider diagram
Theme 3: The Affirmation of the State in the Kingdom of France
A short video tutorial I made to introduce and explain this theme and the assignments:
Learning Objective: To understand the affirmation of the State in France in its multiple dimensions
Key Question (for lessons):
How was the monarchy strengthened in the 16th century?
Assignment:
Read the chapter below (both parts) and complete the timeline (following the instructions on the timeline worksheet). Then on a separate sheet of paper complete carefully constructed written responses to Questions: 1, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7.
Additional video about Louis XIV and absolute monarchy in France (14mins):
The British Model
Another another short video tutorial I made introduce the topic and explain the chapter you have been given to work on:
Introductory PowerPoint:
Parliament Limits English Monarchy
Learning Objective: To understand how the creation of a representative government and definition of fundamental rights inspired philosophers during the 17th century.
Key Question (for lessons): How did Parliament limit the English Monarchy?
Instructions:
Read and study the chapter below to understand how the English Parliament came to limit the power of the monarchy in the 17th century:
Assignment:
Read the chapter above and as you read it make a table (or chart) listing the causes of James I, Charles II and James II’s conflicts with parliament (see example on left hand side of first page of this chapter).
Then on a separate sheet of paper complete carefully constructed written responses to Questions: 1,2, 3,4,5,6,7 and 8
Additional video explaining the Glorious Revolution (12mins):