Famous People of the Middle Ages
We cover the biggies, all 94 of 'em.
The fall of the Roman Empire: from Julius Caesar to Attila the Hun. Islam in the Middle Ages: from Muhammad to Ibn Battuta. Africa in the Middle Ages: from Sundiata to Mansa Musa. China in the Middle Ages: from the Han dynasty to the Mongols. Medieval Japan: including Prince Shotoku and Lady Murasaki. Medieval Europe: everybody from Charlemagne and William the Conqueror to Eleanor of Aquitaine. [see sample pages]
Monday, December 17, 2007
The Middle Ages China
The Middle Ages - China
While we're on the subject of China and the Middle Ages, take a look at the product developed for teaching it all . . .
Everything you ever wanted to know about Medieval China!
Overview of topics covered: The spread of Buddhism, The Golden Age of China, The impact of Confucianism, Overland trade and maritime expeditions, Chinese inventions – and their impact on Europe, Rise of the imperial state and the scholar-official class
The Test - 338 questions
[view toolbook]
While we're on the subject of China and the Middle Ages, take a look at the product developed for teaching it all . . .
Everything you ever wanted to know about Medieval China!
Overview of topics covered: The spread of Buddhism, The Golden Age of China, The impact of Confucianism, Overland trade and maritime expeditions, Chinese inventions – and their impact on Europe, Rise of the imperial state and the scholar-official class
The Test - 338 questions
[view toolbook]
Gifts and the Chinese Inventors
It’s holiday time and our minds turn to gift-giving. Every civilization has bestowed gifts on the world, but medieval China was downright magnificent. Thanks to trade along the Silk Road, four crucial inventions shaped medieval Europe and the Americas.
The Han dynasty invented paper.
Without this, medieval monks in Europe could never have copied their manuscripts.
The Sui dynasty invented gunpowder, which could blast a hole in a castle.
So gunpowder eventually caused the collapse of feudalism.
The Tang dynasty invented wood-block printing.
Without this, Europe would never have experienced the Renaissance & Reformation.
The Ming dynasty invented the magnetic compass.
Without this, Europe would never have experienced the Age of Exploration.
And Columbus would never have landed in the Americas!
Are you teaching the Middle Ages?
FREE lesson “The great Chinese inventors!”.
The Han dynasty invented paper.
Without this, medieval monks in Europe could never have copied their manuscripts.
The Sui dynasty invented gunpowder, which could blast a hole in a castle.
So gunpowder eventually caused the collapse of feudalism.
The Tang dynasty invented wood-block printing.
Without this, Europe would never have experienced the Renaissance & Reformation.
The Ming dynasty invented the magnetic compass.
Without this, Europe would never have experienced the Age of Exploration.
And Columbus would never have landed in the Americas!
Are you teaching the Middle Ages?
FREE lesson “The great Chinese inventors!”.
Chinese Inventions
Four Chinese inventions changed the history of Europe!
If you've ever read a book, flown a kite, ooohed and aaahed at a fireworks display, or eaten spaghetti, you've experienced just a few of China’s amazing inventions.
Just imagine how the Italian merchant Marco Polo felt when he visited China in 1271, and discovered that the Chinese were far more technologically advanced than anywhere in Western Europe.
Discover for yourself how four Chinese inventions changed the history of Europe . . . and the Americas.
Free lesson “The Four Great Inventions of China!”
If you've ever read a book, flown a kite, ooohed and aaahed at a fireworks display, or eaten spaghetti, you've experienced just a few of China’s amazing inventions.
Just imagine how the Italian merchant Marco Polo felt when he visited China in 1271, and discovered that the Chinese were far more technologically advanced than anywhere in Western Europe.
Discover for yourself how four Chinese inventions changed the history of Europe . . . and the Americas.
Free lesson “The Four Great Inventions of China!”
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Beta Testers Needed
Want to be part of our test team?
We are looking for some schools as beta testers for our new products and product structure. Essentially its a way to get your school a free 6 months of Performance Education Unlimited in return for helping us know how to improve our product line and get the word out to other teachers/schools.
If you have used many of our products in the past, please send an email to gshirey@performance-education.com and detail what products you have used and why you think your school would be a good testing ground. Be brief, I know you're busy!
Hurry - there are only 10 slots available and they will be gone in no time.
Thanks,
George Shirey
Performance Education
EMAIL to gshirey@performance-education.com
We are looking for some schools as beta testers for our new products and product structure. Essentially its a way to get your school a free 6 months of Performance Education Unlimited in return for helping us know how to improve our product line and get the word out to other teachers/schools.
If you have used many of our products in the past, please send an email to gshirey@performance-education.com and detail what products you have used and why you think your school would be a good testing ground. Be brief, I know you're busy!
Hurry - there are only 10 slots available and they will be gone in no time.
Thanks,
George Shirey
Performance Education
EMAIL to gshirey@performance-education.com
Free Lesson Plans - A Medieval Christmas
A Medieval Christmas!
Many of the holiday customs we observe today originated in medieval Europe. So bake that gingerbread and pour hot cider into a punch bowl! Dress up as mummers, sing carols, and dance the jig! Extroverts will love the memory game, “The Twelve Days of Christmas.”
(Introverts would rather play chess.)
Too much religion for you, amigo?
Well, it can’t be helped.
The Middle Ages was the “Age of Faith.”
Unless your students grasp that, they’ll never understand the Reformation. Much less the Age of Reason.
Besides . . . All of the terms in this lesson appear on standardized tests. So if anybody gives you a hard time, make ‘em “eat humble pie.”
Are you teaching the Middle Ages?
FREE lesson “A Medieval Christmas!”.
Many of the holiday customs we observe today originated in medieval Europe. So bake that gingerbread and pour hot cider into a punch bowl! Dress up as mummers, sing carols, and dance the jig! Extroverts will love the memory game, “The Twelve Days of Christmas.”
(Introverts would rather play chess.)
Too much religion for you, amigo?
Well, it can’t be helped.
The Middle Ages was the “Age of Faith.”
Unless your students grasp that, they’ll never understand the Reformation. Much less the Age of Reason.
Besides . . . All of the terms in this lesson appear on standardized tests. So if anybody gives you a hard time, make ‘em “eat humble pie.”
Are you teaching the Middle Ages?
FREE lesson “A Medieval Christmas!”.
Free Lesson Plan - Medieval Missionaries
Medieval missionaries:
How did they convert the barbarians of Europe?
It’s not easy to convert a barbarian.
If he’s a Viking, you’re messing with Yulefest, his favorite winter holiday.
And Thor, his mighty god of thunder.
How St. Patrick converted Ireland.
How St. Augustine converted England.
How Charlemagne converted France & Germany.
Are you teaching the Middle Ages?
Free lesson “Medieval missionaries”
How did they convert the barbarians of Europe?
It’s not easy to convert a barbarian.
If he’s a Viking, you’re messing with Yulefest, his favorite winter holiday.
And Thor, his mighty god of thunder.
How St. Patrick converted Ireland.
How St. Augustine converted England.
How Charlemagne converted France & Germany.
Are you teaching the Middle Ages?
Free lesson “Medieval missionaries”
Teach Better by Becoming a Great Storyteller
Become a GREAT storyteller.
It can lead to success on the standardized test.
Years ago, long before I started teaching history, I overheard two seniors talking. The year before, they had taken the 11th grade U.S. history state test. Now they were discussing their high scores.
“Excuse me,” I said, curious as heck. “Why do you suppose your scores were so high?”
“Mr. Smith!” they said, smiling.
“Fine,” I said. “But what did Mr. Smith DO?”
“He tells stories!” they said, smiling.
It’s as simple as that. Mr. Smith was a great storyteller. His stories wrapped everything up: people and events, terms and concepts, causes and effects.
Are you teaching the Civil War?
Take a look at our FREE lesson on Lincoln.
Free Lesson Reminder: “Pakistan: On the brink?” It has nuclear weapons. It has Osama bin Laden. And President Musharraf’s government is STILL in chaos.
This free lesson is more relevant than ever!
It can lead to success on the standardized test.
Years ago, long before I started teaching history, I overheard two seniors talking. The year before, they had taken the 11th grade U.S. history state test. Now they were discussing their high scores.
“Excuse me,” I said, curious as heck. “Why do you suppose your scores were so high?”
“Mr. Smith!” they said, smiling.
“Fine,” I said. “But what did Mr. Smith DO?”
“He tells stories!” they said, smiling.
It’s as simple as that. Mr. Smith was a great storyteller. His stories wrapped everything up: people and events, terms and concepts, causes and effects.
Are you teaching the Civil War?
Take a look at our FREE lesson on Lincoln.
Free Lesson Reminder: “Pakistan: On the brink?” It has nuclear weapons. It has Osama bin Laden. And President Musharraf’s government is STILL in chaos.
This free lesson is more relevant than ever!
Free Lesson Plans>>Pills from Puerto Rico
Are your pills made in Puerto Rico?
You betcha. Thanks to Operation Bootstrap, Puerto Rico manufactures 90% of the pills sold in the U.S. (Operation Bootstrap, by the way, just happens to appear on nearly every standardized test.)
So take a look at our brand-new lesson about Operation Bootstrap, the pharmaceutical industry, and Barceloneta, the town that Viagra built.
Using Puerto Rico as your model, teaching economic terms (GDP, per capita income, literacy rate) will be a breeze, a tropical breeze.
Are you teaching Puerto Rico? The Caribbean?
Then take a look at our FREE lesson:
“Are your pills made in Puerto Rico?”
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From World Regions - The Caribbean (BZ-4712)
Available at a special introduction price of $24.95, it provides a bazillion lessons on the geography, history, culture, and economics of Cuba, Puerto Rico, Haiti, the Dominican Republican, Jamaica and the Bahamas.
You betcha. Thanks to Operation Bootstrap, Puerto Rico manufactures 90% of the pills sold in the U.S. (Operation Bootstrap, by the way, just happens to appear on nearly every standardized test.)
So take a look at our brand-new lesson about Operation Bootstrap, the pharmaceutical industry, and Barceloneta, the town that Viagra built.
Using Puerto Rico as your model, teaching economic terms (GDP, per capita income, literacy rate) will be a breeze, a tropical breeze.
Are you teaching Puerto Rico? The Caribbean?
Then take a look at our FREE lesson:
“Are your pills made in Puerto Rico?”
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From World Regions - The Caribbean (BZ-4712)
Available at a special introduction price of $24.95, it provides a bazillion lessons on the geography, history, culture, and economics of Cuba, Puerto Rico, Haiti, the Dominican Republican, Jamaica and the Bahamas.
Free Lesson Plan - Ibn Battuta
In 1325, Ibn Battuta was 21 years old and living in Tangiers, Morocco. That year, he went on the hajj, a pilgrimage to Mecca.
He traveled for 30 years, visiting 44 countries, and covering 75,000 miles. The only medieval traveler to visit every country of the Islamic empire, he kept a diary that chronicled his run-ins with princes and pirates.
Robbed, bribed, kidnapped, and nearly drowned, Ibn Battuta made maps that were the most accurate of his day.
(p.s. Ibn Battuta lived at the same time as Marco Polo.)
Are you teaching medieval history?
Islam in the Middle Ages?
Take a look at our FREE lesson on Ibn Battuta.
(from Famous People in the Middle Ages)
He traveled for 30 years, visiting 44 countries, and covering 75,000 miles. The only medieval traveler to visit every country of the Islamic empire, he kept a diary that chronicled his run-ins with princes and pirates.
Robbed, bribed, kidnapped, and nearly drowned, Ibn Battuta made maps that were the most accurate of his day.
(p.s. Ibn Battuta lived at the same time as Marco Polo.)
Are you teaching medieval history?
Islam in the Middle Ages?
Take a look at our FREE lesson on Ibn Battuta.
(from Famous People in the Middle Ages)
Free Lesson Plan - World Regions - Canada
Is it snowing in Canada?
You betcha. Using webcams, you can see for yourself. A humorous look at Canada’s climate. (“Canada has four seasons: almost winter, winter, still winter, and road construction.”) How to read a climate chart. How winter shapes the Canadian culture. How the Canadians have invented winter sports. If you lived in Canada, how would your life change?
Are you teaching Canada? Climate?
How climate shapes culture?
Free lesson “Is it snowing in Canada?”
You betcha. Using webcams, you can see for yourself. A humorous look at Canada’s climate. (“Canada has four seasons: almost winter, winter, still winter, and road construction.”) How to read a climate chart. How winter shapes the Canadian culture. How the Canadians have invented winter sports. If you lived in Canada, how would your life change?
Are you teaching Canada? Climate?
How climate shapes culture?
Free lesson “Is it snowing in Canada?”
Trying to Catch up on Some Old Free Lesson Plans
Stalin!
As the weather turns cold, our minds turn to Russia, its bitter cold winters, and Stalin, one of the coldest hearts that ever beat.
Thanks to collectivization, famine in the Ukraine, the Great Purge, and the Gulag, Stalin was responsible for the deaths of 20 million of his own people.
A mass murderer, his name is synonymous with totalitarianism. If it weren’t for Hitler, Stalin would have been the worst person of the 20th century.
Are you teaching Stalin? The rise of dictators? Totalitarianism?
Take a look at our FREE lesson on “Stalin’s rise to power”.
(from The Modern World - The Rise of Dictators)
As the weather turns cold, our minds turn to Russia, its bitter cold winters, and Stalin, one of the coldest hearts that ever beat.
Thanks to collectivization, famine in the Ukraine, the Great Purge, and the Gulag, Stalin was responsible for the deaths of 20 million of his own people.
A mass murderer, his name is synonymous with totalitarianism. If it weren’t for Hitler, Stalin would have been the worst person of the 20th century.
Are you teaching Stalin? The rise of dictators? Totalitarianism?
Take a look at our FREE lesson on “Stalin’s rise to power”.
(from The Modern World - The Rise of Dictators)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)