Congratulations! You have made it through the first two parts of this study and have traveled from the fall of Rome to Denmark and all the way to the Middle East.
A Message from Curriculum Author Rebecca Manor
Your map has nations, cities, rivers, and seas colored and labeled. You’ve learned about Charlemagne and the spread of Christianity. You’ve seen how Beowulf mingled Christian and pagan belief systems, showing how cultures merge and meld. You got to know King Arthur, a model of Anglo-Saxon and Norman ideals.
Part Two introduced Muhammad, the founder of Islam, and the stage has been set for religious crusades and conquest. Feudalism would flourish in this period, although most of the villeins and serfs lived difficult, hardscrabble lives supporting those knights and kings and queens on their crusades to the Holy Land. Queen Eleanor’s adventures transported you to Jerusalem and England and France. It’s been quite a journey and you’ve read, researched, mapped, and even tasted life in the early Middle Ages.
Now, we are going to get to know Robin Hood and the architectural advancements seen in castles. You will also travel to Africa and Asia, learning about the richest man who ever lived, as well as the man who struck terror in the hearts of Europeans with his conquests from the Asian steppe. There’s a lot of great material ahead of you in this study.
At this point, you probably have established a rhythm for your study. If it is working well for you, stick with it. If you haven’t quite found a pattern that works, try switching things around. Do all the mapping and vocabulary one day, followed by reading the next. Break up assignments or read the literature aloud as a family. Remember, the teacher’s guide is a guide, not a checklist. Use what works for you and your family. If you find that you are intrigued by any particular time period, check out the Rabbit Trails to dig deeper.
Keep up the great work! Let us know if you have any questions, and please consider sharing your work @beautifulfeetbooks.
