What you must do in this unit
- Read chapters 8 and 9 in the textbook.
- Read my notes on the Middle Ages and the Magna Carta and Middle Ages.
- Study the Questions to Consider and the Key Terms for the unit.
What you can do in this unit
- Watch the video on The Medieval Mind: How To Build A Cathedral (Another great movie about the making of a medieval cathedral is David Macaulay's Cathedral. You might be able to find excerpts online somewhere.)
- Listen to some further information about this unit as a mp3 file. You can also read the information as a txt file.
Some videos that you can watch for this unit
- King John and Magna Carta
- Magna Carta Conservation Treatment
- Magna Carta Timelines.tv History of Britain
- The importance of the Magna Carta
- Three Minute Philosophy: Thomas Aquinas
- Intro: Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologiae, IaIIa, q. 2
- The Animated Bayeux Tapestry (explanation of the tapestry)
- For extra credit please suggest to your instructor a relevant video for this unit of the course. Send the title of the video, the URL and a brief explanation of why you find the video interesting and applicable to the material that is being studied in this unit.
Extra Credit Options
- For up to 25 points of extra credit, read the Magna Carta and submit the Optional Magna Carta paragraph.
- For up to 25 points of extra credit, in a short paper (one-page maximum) explain how much it cost to build a medieval cathedral and what were some of the usual ways that the church raised money to pay for construction. Remember to cite sources.
- For up to 25 points of extra credit, clearly explain the genealogical basis of William's claim to the English throne in a one-page paper.
- For up to 10 points of extra credit, read Pope Urban's speech at Clermont--there are several versions--that started the Crusades. Explain in a paragraph or so what you found most amazing about the Pope's remarks.
- For up to 10 points of extra credit, was the capture of Jerusalem by the crusaders on 15 July 1099 a good day or bad day for the Pope? Explain in a long paragraph and remember to cite sources. You may wish to check Fulcher of Chartres, The Capture of Jerusalem.
- For up to 10 points of extra credit, read Usmah Ibn Munqidh (1095-1188), excerpts from his Autobiography (c.1175 CE) and write a long paragraph in which you comment upon the nature of Christian-Muslim interaction in the Near East during the Crusades.
- For extra credit, please suggest a relevant website for this unit of the course. Send your instructor the title of the site, the URL and a brief explanation why you find the information interesting and applicable to the material being studied this unit.
Unit Learning Objectives
- Upon successful completion of this unit, you will be able to (1) demonstrate knowledge of key events in medieval England and (2) analyze a historical primary source.