Year 8 History

THE MIDDLE AGES – BACKGROUND HISTORY

During the third and second centuries BC, the city of Rome grew strong PARAGRAPH 1
and extended its control over surrounding areas. In 58 BC, the Roman
general and statesman, Julius Caesar, conquered the part of Europe that
used to be called Gaul. This region included all of what is now France as
well as the northern part of Italy. Three years later, Caesar led his
invading armies into Britain. As a result of Caesar’s military success,
Rome controlled all of the countries around the Mediterranean Sea and extended its influences as far
west as Britain. The city of Rome became an empire.

From 31 BC until 407 AD, the Roman Empire was the most powerful force in all Europe. At the height
PARAGRAPH 2
of its power, Rome had great influence on the cultural development of its neighbours. From Rome,
they took their alphabet, their architecture, their language and their systems of government and law.

As time went on, Rome grew weak and less able to defend itself against attack. Meanwhile, the PARAGRAPH 3
Vandals, a savage Germanic tribe from northern Europe, grew strong. During the fourth and fifth
centuries AD, they overran Gaul, Spain and northern Africa. One by one, they captured Roman cities.
City by city, they moved closer to Rome itself. Then, in AD 455, as many as eighty thousand Vandals
attacked Rome and left the city in ruins. Under the pressure of repeated attacks by barbarians, the
Roman Empire collapsed.

For four to six centuries, there was no order in Europe. People in Europe lived in fear that they would PARAGRAPH 4
be attacked by bands of barbarians. The art, music and education of the Roman Empire were lost. This
period of history was known as the Dark Ages.

About AD 800, people began to join together for protection. The strongest warriors PARAGRAPH 5
among them became kings. Each king took the land that he had conquered and
divided it among his loyal followers on the condition that they would fight in his
army and pay taxes to him. These followers helped the king build a castle in which
he and his family could live safely. If the enemy attacked, the king’s followers also
found safety within the castle walls. This was the beginning of the feudal system.
This period was known as the Middle Ages.

1. What is the main idea of each paragraph? Match the ideas and paragraphs:
a. The development of the feudal system – Paragraph _________________
b. Barbarian attacks and the fall of the Roman Empire – Paragraph ______________
c. The influence of Rome – Paragraph __________________
d. The growth of Rome’s power – Paragraph ________________
e. The Dark Ages – Paragraph __________________

2. True or False? Write the correct statement in your exercise book:

a. Julius Caesar was a French general and statesman. ___________
b. Caesar led his army into Gaul and Sweden. ___________
c. The city of Rome became an empire. _______________
d. Rome had a strong influence on European languages. __________
e. The Vandals were a peaceful tribe from Northern Europe. __________
f. The Roman Empire collapsed in 455 AD. ______________
g. During the Dark Ages, there were no strong governments in Europe. __________
h. Society began to change around 800 AD. __________
i. The strongest kings became soldiers. ______________
j. The king’s followers helped to build the king’s castle. _________________
 VOCABULARY – Match the following words with their meanings; write the
meanings in the table below. (Don’t forget to find the word in the text!
VOCABULARY MEANING PARAGRAPH
empire
conquer
ruins
surrounding
statesman
general
tribe
attacked
protection
invaded
warriors
period
influence
pressure
followers
extended
overran
bands
collapsed
barbarians
capture
tax
savage
 A length of time
 A group of countries ruled by  To have an effect
a single person or  Strong force
government  People who follow
 Fallen or broken down  Stretched
 Near, neighbouring  Took over
 A person who takes part in  Groups of people
government  Fell down
 An important position in the  cruel and uncivilised people
army  a sum of money paid from
 A group of people from the income
same family or area  rough and cruel
 Started fighting  to win over
 Safety someone
 To enter an area which does else, to
not belong to that person or defeat
group  to catch, to
 Soldiers or fighters take over
VERB ACTIVITY – what verbs are missing? Work together to work it out, then check with your original!

During the third and second centuries BC, the city of Rome _________strong and _____________ its
control over surrounding areas. In 58 BC, the Roman general and statesman, Julius Caesar,
______________ the part of Europe that used to be called Gaul. This region ___________ all of what
is now France as well as the northern part of Italy. Three years later, Caesar ____________ his
invading armies into Britain. As a result of Caesar’s military success, Rome _____________ all of the
countries around the Mediterranean Sea and extended its influences as far west as Britain. The city of
Rome ___________________ an empire.

From 31 BC until 407 AD, the Roman Empire ______________ the most powerful force in all Europe.
At the height of its power, Rome ____________ great influence on the cultural development of its
neighbours. From Rome, they _____________ their alphabet, their architecture, their language and
their systems of government and law.

___________________________________________________________________________________

VERB ACTIVITY – what verbs are missing? Work together to work it out, then check with your original!

During the third and second centuries BC, the city of Rome _________strong and _____________ its
control over surrounding areas. In 58 BC, the Roman general and statesman, Julius Caesar,
______________ the part of Europe that used to be called Gaul. This region ___________ all of what
is now France as well as the northern part of Italy. Three years later, Caesar ____________ his
invading armies into Britain. As a result of Caesar’s military success, Rome _____________ all of the
countries around the Mediterranean Sea and extended its influences as far west as Britain. The city of
Rome ___________________ an empire.

From 31 BC until 407 AD, the Roman Empire ______________ the most powerful force in all Europe.
At the height of its power, Rome ____________ great influence on the cultural development of its
neighbours. From Rome, they _____________ their alphabet, their architecture, their language and
their systems of government and law.

___________________________________________________________________________________

VERB ACTIVITY – what verbs are missing? Work together to work it out, then check with your original!

During the third and second centuries BC, the city of Rome _________strong and _____________ its
control over surrounding areas. In 58 BC, the Roman general and statesman, Julius Caesar,
______________ the part of Europe that used to be called Gaul. This region ___________ all of what
is now France as well as the northern part of Italy. Three years later, Caesar ____________ his
invading armies into Britain. As a result of Caesar’s military success, Rome _____________ all of the
countries around the Mediterranean Sea and extended its influences as far west as Britain. The city of
Rome ___________________ an empire.

From 31 BC until 407 AD, the Roman Empire ______________ the most powerful force in all Europe.
At the height of its power, Rome ____________ great influence on the cultural development of its
neighbours. From Rome, they _____________ their alphabet, their architecture, their language and
their systems of government and law.
WRITING A SUMMARY - A guided summary based on the text ‘THE MIDDLE AGES’

PARAGRAPH 1: Find the TOPIC SENTENCE and copy it –

___________________________________________________________________________________

MAIN POINTS:

 _______________________________________________________________
 _______________________________________________________________
 _______________________________________________________________
 _______________________________________________________________

PARAGRAPH 2: Find the TOPIC SENTENCE and copy it –

___________________________________________________________________________________

MAIN POINTS
 _______________________________________________________________
 _______________________________________________________________
 _______________________________________________________________

PARAGRAPH 3: TOPIC SENTENCE

___________________________________________________________________________________

MAIN POINTS
 _______________________________________________________________
 _______________________________________________________________
 _______________________________________________________________

PARAGRAPH 4: TOPIC SENTENCE

___________________________________________________________________________________

MAIN POINTS
 _______________________________________________________________
 _______________________________________________________________
 _______________________________________________________________
 _______________________________________________________________

Write a recount of important events which led to the Middle Ages.

YOU MUST:
 Have an introductory sentence (orientation)
 Write events in _________________ ___________________________
 Use ________________ tense
 Use _________________ words e.g. _________________________,
______________________ , ________________________________

 HISTORY is full of causes and effects so it is
WRITING EXERCISE 1 important to understand the language
WORDS: which we use to show cause and effect.
What are some of
the words we can
use to show us cause
and effect?

Complete the CAUSE and EFFECT table below. You may use some of the CAUSE and EFFECT signals
we have discussed:

CAUSE CAUSE/EFFECT SIGNAL EFFECT

Rome grew strong It extended its control over
surrounding areas

Caesar led his armies into

Britain

The city of Rome became an

empire

Rome was the most powerful

force in all Europe

The Roman Empire collapsed

The art, music and education of

the Roman Empire were lost

USE THESE NOTES TO MAKE SENTENCES:

1. ____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
2. ____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
3. ____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
4. ____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
5. ____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
6. ____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________