1. The Middle Ages
Unit 4

2. Overview of the Middle Ages

8. What story do these maps show?
•Talk to your neighbors.
•See if you can think of between three and five conclusions about the Hundred Years’ War.

9. Background
From 1337 to 1483 the English and French fought a series of wars, called the Hundred Years’ War. The main reason for these wars was to decide who should rule France: the King of England or the King of France? Ever since William the Conqueror had successfully invaded England, the Kings of England had owned various parts of France.

10. Background
At various stages in the early twelfth century the English crown owned a considerable empire in France known as the Angevin Empire – including Normandy, Maine, Anjou, Touraine, Gascony and Aquitaine. By the fourteenth century some of this land had been lost to the King of France, but successive English kings believed they were the legitimate rulers of France. Key battles in the War included Crecy and Agincourt, throwing up famous individuals – including the Black Prince and Joan of Arc.

11. Chronology
Read the timeline of the Hundred Years’ War. On your whiteboards put the eight events that correspond to these dates.

14. Treaty of Bretigny
English on the back foot
Turning tide
End of the war

15. Analysis •Look at your living graph
•What does it tell you about the Hundred Years’ War?
•Write a statement about the war on your whiteboard based on your living graph

16. Write-Up: Conclusion
•Introduction - Write what the Hundred Years’ War was.
•Main body - Write a description of how England were doing at various stages of the war (1337, 1360, , ). Describe what action had taken place and give a supported judgment at each point on how England were doing (success or defeat).
•Conclusion – Go back to the question:
‘How successful were the English against the French?’
What do you think? Give your opinion using one piece
of evidence to back this up.

17. The Black Plague