Medieval history

Free teaching guides on the Middle Ages, from castles and knights to the Crusades and the Black Death. Each guide gives you the background knowledge, key terms and talking points to teach the topic with confidence.

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1095–1291

The Crusades

The causes, the major Crusades and their lasting effects.

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Castle Defence & Attack

How castles were defended, and how attackers tried to break them.

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Medieval Siege Warfare

The weapons, tactics and strategy behind medieval sieges.

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The Knights Templar

Warrior monks, pioneers of finance, and their dramatic fall.

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Knights Hospitaller

Caring for pilgrims and defending the Holy Land.

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Medieval Religion

Christianity and Islam in the Middle Ages.

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The Claims to the Throne, 1066

Four claimants, one crown, and the road to Hastings.

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1347–1351

The Black Death

How the plague spread across Europe and what it changed.

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