Late Medieval Period

Standards of Learning

Content

Explain that European monarchies consolidated power and began forming nation-states in the late medieval period.

Explain how European nation-states expanded their territories and consolidated their power, using the following information as a guide:

England
•    William the Conqueror, leader of the Norman Conquest, united most of England.              
•    Common law had its beginnings during the reign of Henry II.
•    King John signed the Magna Carta, limiting the King’s power.
•    The Hundred Years’ War between England and France helped define England as a nation.

France
•    Hugh Capet established the French throne in Paris, and his dynasty gradually expanded their control over most of France.                                                                                         
•    The Hundred Years’ War between England and France helped define France as a nation.
•    Joan of Arc was a unifying factor.
                                                                                 
Spain
•    Ferdinand and Isabella unified the country and expelled Muslim Moors.                           
•    Spanish Empire in the Western Hemisphere expanded under Philip II.     
                        
Russia
•    Ivan the Great threw off the rule of the Mongols, centralized power in Moscow, and expanded the Russian nation.                                                                                                             
•    Power was centralized in the hands of the tsar.                                                              
•    The Orthodox Church influenced unification.                                                                  

Sample Resources

Below is an annotated list of Internet resources for this organizing topic. Copyright restrictions may exist for the material on some Web sites. Please note and abide by any such restrictions.

The Bill of Rights Institute. <http://www.billofrightsinstitute.org/> This site provides lesson plans and other information on the Bill of Rights, as well as opportunities for teacher training.

Internet Medieval Sourcebook. Fordham University. <http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/sbook.html>. This site provides information on medieval history.

Virginia Standards of Learning Assessments for the 2001 History and Social Science Standards of Learning: History and Social Science Released Items for WorldHistoryI.Virginia Department of Education 2003/04. <http://www.doe.virginia.gov/.../released_tests/history_social_science/2003/world_history1.pdf>.

Virginia Standards of Learning Assessments for the 2008 History and Social Science Standards of Learning. World History and Geography  to 1500 A.D. (C.E.). Test Blueprint. Virginia Department of Education, 2009. <http://www.doe.virginia.gov/testing/...blueprints_worldhistory_geo_to1500.pdf >. This site provides assessment information for World History and Geography to 1500 A.D.