Spread of Christianity Religion in Medieval Europe - Ignite! Learning

Religion in Medieval Europe 

Table of Contents 

0. Unit Challenge 

1. Spread of Christianity 

2. Conflict Between Leaders 

3. The Crusades 

4. Impact of the Catholic Church 

5. Muslims and the Reconquista 

6. Persecution of Jews in Europe 

World History

UNIT CHALLENGE 

Purpose: The unit challenges help students explore the big picture themes that tie together each unit of 

Ignite! content. These challenges are designed to complement the Ignite! Topic Lessons. 

Each challenge presents students with an openended task with no single correct solution. Working in 

small groups, students prepare a short response, in either written or oral form, in which they use 

knowledge gained by studying the unit’s multimedia movies to formulate and defend a particular position. 

These responses can be used to stimulate further class discussion and exploration of the issues. 

NOTE: In order to use this activity with your class for a particular Ignite! unit, you should plan on 

having students study the Ignite! movies from most of the topics in that unit. Otherwise, students 

will not have enough information to complete the challenge activity. 

Class time required: 

· 15 minutes at the start of unit to organize students into groups and review the challenge, and for 

the groups to discuss and record their initial thoughts and current knowledge of the issues. 

· 20 minutes at the end of the unit for student groups to complete their responses to the challenge. 

· Optional: 2030 minutes for student groups to present their responses to the class. 

Teacher Instructions: 

At the Start of the Unit: Before studying any of the unit’s topics or movies: 

1. divide your class into teams of 3 to 4 students; 

2. reproduce the unit challenge worksheet and distribute to students; 

3. decide whether teams will give oral presentations and/or written statements in response to their 

challenge; 

4. read the challenge(s) out loud and make sure that all terms and concepts are understood; 

5. ask groups to complete Part One of their worksheets (Getting Started). They should discuss and 

write down their thoughts, based on their current knowledge for how they might respond to the 

selected challenge. 

While the Class Studies the Unit’s Topics: Over the next few days or weeks, as you are using the Ignite! 

Topic Lessons for this unit, occasionally remind students to record on their worksheets any information 

they have found in the Ignite! movies that might help them to develop or support their response to the 

challenge. They should record this information in Part Two of their worksheets (Taking Notes). 

After Completing the Last Topic of the Unit: Give your students 20 minutes to discuss and write up their 

response to the challenge. They can use the space provided in Part Three of their worksheets (Preparing 

Your Response). You might consider allowing them to review some of the movies from the unit. Then, 

have students give brief presentations of their responses (2 to 3 minutes each) and/or submit their written 

responses. 

ã 2005, Ignite! All Rights Reserved

Name: 


World History 


Challenge A: Make Your Best Pitch 

Background: Just as your favorite CD has a few songs that stand out as the most interesting and 

memorable, historical developments have episodes that especially stand out. This unit has 

discusses important developments in the religious struggles Medieval Europe. 

Challenge: You are a movie director who wants to make a movie about one of the topics covered in 

this unit, but you need money to cover production costs. A wealthy investor has agreed to 

meet with you, but only for five minutes. Write a sales pitch convincing her of your project's 

importance. 

Tips: 

· Be focused. Of the topics covered, choose only one. 

· It's not necessary to talk through the whole movie. Just explain what is important about the 

topic. 

· While your main job here is to persuade, be sure you also inform. 

Challenge B: Put Words in their Mouths 

Background: From Charlemagne to Pope Clement VII, from St. Thomas Aquinas to Richard the 

Lionhearted, this unit discusses the strong religious beliefs and conflicts of various leaders. 

Challenge: Choose two of the major historical figures from this unit and write a conversation in 

which they compare their ideas about religion, government, and the events of their time. 

Tips: 

· Because the unit covers a broad sweep of time, the two people may not have been alive at 

the same time, and even if they were, they may never have met. The point is for you to 

imagine what they might have said to one another. 

· What they say should include some specific historical facts as well as an understanding of 

the main ideas in the unit. 

PART ONE – Getting Started 

Directions: Choose one of the challenges above, or your teacher will assign you one. Based on 

what you already know, talk with the other members of your group about how you might respond to 

this challenge. Write your thoughts in the box below. You can change your mind later after you have 

reviewed the Ignite! movies in this unit. 

Notes: 


Name: 


World History 

PART TWO – Taking Notes 

Directions: As you view and discuss the Ignite! movies in this unit, be on the lookout for information that 

will help you develop a response to your challenge. Record that information in the box below. Use 

additional paper if necessary. 

Notes: 

PART THREE – Preparing Your Response 

Directions: Depending on your teacher’s instructions, work with your group to create a written or oral 

response to your challenge. Decide on the argument you wish to make or the position you wish to take, 

and be sure to include evidence from the Ignite! movies to support your statements. Use the space below 

for your response. Use additional paper if necessary. 

Notes: 


World History 

Lesson Plan 

Class: _________________ 

unit 


# 1. 

Spread of Christianity 

Type Instruction: Whole Class 

Learning Objective(s): Students trace the spread of Christianity across Europe. 

Length of Time: 10 Minutes 

Ignite! Movies: 

• Important Christian Figures 

• Spreading Christianity 

• European Spread of Christianity 

Teacher Instructions: Play Ignite! movies with students and complete the following activity. 

Part One: Students complete sequencing squares about the spread of Christianity in Europe. 

Part Two: Students write news articles about the spread of Christianity across Europe. 

Target Vocabulary/Key Terms: 

• convert • Papal 

• Divine Right • Religious Code 

• missionary • Sacred Oak of Thor 

• monastery 

Notes: 

ã 2005, Ignite! All Rights Reserved 



World History

Name: 



World History 

The Spread of Christianity 

Directions: Fill in the boxes, from 1 to 6, to trace the spread of Christianity in Medieval Europe. 

1. Papal Power 

Two kinds of power: 

1. 

2. 

Pope Gregory I 

Expanded power outside 

___________ realms. 

Divine Right: _______ 

granted Kings the right to 

rule however they wanted. 

4. Boniface 

Pope Gregory ______ 

sent him to 

___________________. 

Germans respected him 

because he broke the 

_____________________ 

_____________________ 

5. Monasteries 

Centers for: 

Monasteries had their 

own: 

1. 

2. 

3. 

2. Clovis I 

King of the __________ 

Augustine of Cantebury 

Led the christian 

missionaries to 

____________________ 

3. Missionary 

Define: 

6. Olaf I 

Viking King of _________. 

Pressured people to 

___________________. 

Olaf II 

Passed Norway’s first 

code of law, the 

____________________ 

____________________ 


Name: 



World History 

The Medieval Times 

Directions: Imagine that you are a reporter for the newspaper “The Medieval Times”. Write a news article about the 

spread of Christianity across Europe. Using your notes from Part One, include information on the popes, 

missionaries, and the countries where Christianity spread. 

Date: 

The Medieval Times 

The Pope… 

Newsflash! Christianity Spreads 

Some effective missionary leaders… 

Christianity has now spread….

Spread of Christianity Religion in Medieval Europe - Ignite! Learning

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?