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Medieval
Studies: A Standards Based Approach
 ith
some effort I was able to convince my administrator at Learn NC,
an online high school supported by the University of North Carolina
at Chapel Hill School of Education, to add a course on European
medieval history, titled Medieval Studies, to the course catalog.
I had a twofold purpose in wanting this addition. First, I held
that Medieval Studies, as an elective course, would help to increase
Advanced Placement European and World History examination scores
if taught before students take AP European and/or World History.
In fact, I believe it so strongly that I am currently working
on a doctoral dissertation which will help to underline this idea.
Second, because of my background (MA in history with a concentration
in medieval Europe) and interests, I have dreamt of teaching a
medieval course to high school students online.
However, my enthusiasm for the course was counterbalanced by
some problems. For example, as I began to sift through course
syllabi and outlines as a means of providing a foundation for
the design of my own course, I realized that there were very few
standards to work with when designing such a course. Thus, my
dilemma before I began the course development and online programming
was to create a set of standards to use. Luckily, I had been invited
in the fall of 2004 to be a part of the AP World History Standards
Committee for North Carolina. In that time, we took the AP World
History guidelines set by the CollegeBoard and created a set of
standards using the format that North Carolina had adopted. Thus
I took my knowledge of standards writing and applied it to my
dilemma involving the Medieval Studies course and produced the
standards below. I hope that these standards prove to be useful
to teachers (traditional or online) who need more specific objectives
in designing and/or teaching a medieval history course. It is
my intent to write a follow-up article for Scientia Scholae
in one year’s time in which I will highlight the successes and
challenges faced by this young program.
Medieval Studies
Medieval Studies will investigate the history of Europe
from the breakup of the Roman Empire to the dawn of the Renaissance.
It will study the political, economic, social, and cultural
development of the three successor civilizations of classical
Greece and Rome –Byzantium, Islamic and Western Christendom,
with particular emphasis on the latter. This course will examine
the development and interactions of these civilizations in both
peace and war. Among the topics to be covered in Medieval Studies
will be: the end of the ancient world, the rise of Christianity,
the era of Germanic migrations, the Germanic West, the Catholic
Church in the West, the Carolingian Empire, the 9th
century invasions, feudalism and manorialism, the Byzantine
Empire, the rise of Islam, the Crusades, the development of
medieval kingdoms and nation-states, class structure in the
Middle Ages, the Renaissance of the high Middle Ages, the Mongol
invasions, and the beginnings of the Reformation. It will also
attempt to assess the impact of these and other subjects of
medieval origin upon today's world. Furthermore through the
analysis of primary and secondary sources, Medieval Studies
will help prepare students for further historical learning including
Advanced Placement European and World History.
Medieval Studies provides the opportunity for advanced
work, rigorous study, and systematic study of major ideas and
concepts found in the study of medieval European history. The
course is designed for students who have demonstrated an advanced
level of interest, learning, and achievement in history. Due
to the challenging nature of the course, it requires students
to take greater responsibility for their learning by participating
in problem-seeking, problem-solving, scholarly and creative
processes, critical analysis and application, and reflective
thinking.
Strands: Geographic Relationships, Historic Perspectives,
Economic and Development, Government and Active Citizenship and
Political Culture, Global Connections and Processes, Technological
Influences and Society, Individual Identity and Development, Change
and Continuity, Social and Gender Structure, Periodization, Cultural
and Intellectual Developments, Interpretation of Documents.
Goal 1 – Christianity
The student will trace and evaluate the impact of Christianity
on medieval Europe.
- Define the setting for Christianity during the period before
and after the birth of Christ.
- Trace the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth
- Map the spread of Christianity through Roman Empire during
the first three centuries after the death of Jesus of Nazareth.
- Summarize the early developments of the Christian church
during the first three centuries after its creation.
- Examine the various church controversies of the early Christian
church including but not limited to Gnosticism, Arianism,
the Donatist schism, and Pelagism.
- Detail the lives and teachings of the early leaders of the
Christian church including but not limited to Augustine of
Hippo, Alexander of Alexandria, Ambrose, Athanasius, Basil
the Great, Gregory the Great, Eusebius of Caesarea, Jerome,
John Chrysostom, Origen, and Tertullian,
- Evaluate the contributions of Christian culture to the culture
of medieval Europe.
Goal 2 – The Byzantine Empire
The student will examine the influence of the Byzantine Empire
on medieval Europe.
2.01 Trace the geopolitical developments of the Byzantine Empire
over the length of its existence.
2.02 Detail the major political developments of the Byzantine
Empire during the rule of Emperor Justinian.
2.03 Evaluate the major achievements of the Emperor Justinian.
2.04 Assess the major achievements and political developments
of the Byzantine Empire during the rule of dynasty of Heraclius.
2.05 Summarize the major political achievements and developments
during the reign of Leo III.
2.06 Survey the major political achievements and developments
during the time period of the Macedonian Dynasty.
2.07 Examine the causes and effects of the decline of the Byzantine
Empire.
2.08 Analyze the various theological controversies of the Byzantine
Empire including, but not limited to the Monophysite and iconoclastic
controversies.
2.09 Evaluate the contributions of Byzantine civilization to
the culture of medieval Europe including but not limited commerce,
agriculture, learning, architecture, and art.
Goal 3 – The Islamic World
The student will trace and evaluate the impact of the Islamic
movement on medieval Europe.
3.01 Survey the major developments of the Arabian Peninsula
before the arrival of the Islamic movement.
3.02 Trace the life and teachings of Mohammed.
3.03 Categorize the major tenets of Islam and their impact
on the Arabian Peninsula.
3.04 Map the expansion of Islam from the Arabian Peninsula
into Asia, Africa, and Europe.
3.05 Summarize the political achievements and developments
of the Omayyad Dynasty.
3.06 Assess the political achievements and developments of
the Abbasic Caliphate as successor to the Omayyad Dynasty.
3.07 Trace the cultural and political developments of Islamic
Spain.
3.08 Evaluate the contributions of Islamic civilization to
the culture of medieval Europe including but not limited to
commerce, agriculture, learning, architecture, and art.
Goal 4 – Barbarian Invasions
The student will evaluate the invasions of Europe as a force
for change in medieval Europe.
4.01 Trace and evaluate the effects of the Germanic invasions
during late antiquity including but not limited to the invasions
of the Goths, Huns, Lombards, and Franks.
4.02 Outline the political achievements and developments of
the Merovingians in early medieval Europe.
4.03 Evaluate the political developments and impact of the
Carolingian Empire on medieval Europe.
4.04 Detail the Vikings invasions and assess their impact on
the cultural and political development of medieval Europe.
4.05 Evaluate the role of the Islamic threat on the cultural
and political developments of medieval Europe.
4.06 Summarize the influence of Magyar invasions on cultural
and political developments of medieval Europe.
4.07 Assess the cultural and political results of the invasions
of early medieval Europe.
Goal 5 – The Church in the Middle Ages
The student will evaluate the role of the Christian church
in the culture of medieval Europe.
5.01 Evaluate the civil role of the Christian church in medieval
Europe.
5.02 Describe the nature of the sacraments of the Christian
church and their role in the culture of medieval Europe.
5.03 Summarize the nature of canon law of the Christian church
and its role in the culture of medieval Europe.
5.04 Detail the various monastic movements including but not
limited to the Benedictines, Augustinians, Cluniacs, Cistercians,
Dominicans, and Franciscans of medieval Europe and their impact
on the culture of the Christian church and Europe.
5.05 Trace the Christian Crusades including but not limited
to the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th
Crusades.
5.06 Assess the causes and effects of the Christian Crusades
on medieval Europe and the Middle East.
5.07 Assess the causes and effects of the controversies of
the Christian church including but not limited to the Babylonian
Captivity and the Great Schism.
Goal 6 – Medieval Society and Culture
The student will examine the various social structures and
intellectual, scientific, literature, and architectural movements
of medieval Europe.
6.01 Define the feudal society of medieval Europe and evaluate
its impact on cultural and political developments of Europe.
6.02 Define manorialism of medieval Europe and assess its influence
on the cultural and political developments of Europe.
6.03 Outline the causes and effects of the growth of towns
and trade in medieval Europe.
6.04 Evaluate the causes and effects of developments of learning
and education in medieval Europe.
6.05 Summarize the developments of science and technology in
medieval Europe.
6.06 Categorize the different forms of literature of medieval
Europe and their influence on the culture of Europe.
6.07 Reconstruct the developments of architecture in medieval
Europe including but not limited to Romanesque and Gothic forms.
Goal 7 – Political Development in the Holy Roman Empire, England,
and France
The student will trace the political developments of the Holy
Roman Empire, England and France in medieval Europe.
7.01 Trace and evaluate the political developments of medieval
France and Germany after the Carolingians to the rise of the
Holy Roman Empire including but not limited to the Saxon duchies,
the Franconians, and the Hohenstaufens.
7.02 Assess the causes and effects of the decline of the Holy
Roman Empire.
7.03 Map the geopolitical developments in the British Isles
from late antiquity to the Norman Conquest.
7.04 Summarize the causes and effects of the Norman Conquest
on the medieval England.
7.05 Evaluate the reigns of the Anglo-Norman kings of England
including William I, William II, and Henry I.
7.06 Assess the political achievements and developments of
the reigns of the Plantagenet kings including but not limited
to Henry II, Richard I, John, and Edward I.
7.07 Judge the influence of the Magna Carta and the English
Parliament on later forms of representative government.
7.08 Trace the events of the Hundred Years’ War and Wars of
the Roses.
7.09 Judge the effects of the Hundred Years’ War and Wars of
the Roses on later cultural and political developments in medieval
England and France
7.10 Assess the political achievements and developments of
the Capetian dynasty in medieval France.
Goal 8 – Nation-Building on the Periphery of Europe
The student will trace the political developments of the nations
of Spain, Portugal, the Swiss Confederation, Russia, and Eastern
Europe.
8.01 Describe the political developments of medieval Spain
and assess its cultural distinctiveness from medieval Europe.
8.02 Survey the political developments of medieval Portugal.
8.03 Trace the political developments of the Swiss Confederation
and evaluate its political distinctiveness from medieval Europe.
8.04 Summarize the cultural and political developments of
eastern medieval Europe including but not limited to Poland
and Hungary.
8.05 Trace the cultural and political developments in Russia
from the Kievan Rus to the rise of Moscow.
Goal 9 – Economic Developments of the Late Middle Ages
The student will examine the various economic developments
of medieval Europe.
9.01 Analyze the causes and effects of the Agricultural Revolution
in Europe.
9.02 Assess the development of technology, trade, commerce
and the growth of guilds in medieval Europe.
9.03 Trace the causes and evaluate the lasting effects of
the Bubonic Plagues during the 14th century on
cultural and economic developments in medieval Europe.
Goal 10 – The Renaissance and Reformation
The student will evaluate the causes and effects of the Renaissance
and Reformation on Europe.
10.01 Define the geopolitical setting of Italy in 1350 on
the eve of the Renaissance.
10.02 Summarize the Humanistic movements of the 14th
century.
10.03 Trace the cultural and intellectual developments of
the Renaissance.
10.04 Assess the influence of the Renaissance as a catalyst
for change in medieval Europe.
10.05 Compare the role of women in the Renaissance to previous
cultural and intellectual movements of medieval Europe.
10.06 Determine the causes for the church reform movement
in medieval Europe.
10.07 Trace and evaluate the influence of reformers on the
Reformation including but not limited to Martin Luther, John
Calvin, Erasmus, Ulrich Zwingli, Melanchthon, and Karlstadt.
10.08 Assess the effects and influence of the Reformation
on Europe.
Timothy Hall
The Franklin Academy
Chair, Social Studies Department Learn NC
Scientia Scholae, Volume IV, Issue 1, Fall 2005
http://www.teamsmedieval.org/scientia_scholae/0508/standards.html
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