New
New
Year 2

Eleanor, Duchess of Aquitaine

I can describe the Eleanor of Aquitaine's early life and how she became a duchess.

New
New
Year 2

Eleanor, Duchess of Aquitaine

I can describe the Eleanor of Aquitaine's early life and how she became a duchess.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Eleanor of Aquitaine was the daughter of the Duke of Aquitaine, an important landholder in what is modern France.
  2. Her father made sure that she received a good education and she was taught about literature, languages and how to ride!
  3. Her father expected her to marry a duke, prince or king, and this education would be very useful.
  4. However, before he could see her married, the Duke of Aquitaine died, leaving Eleanor all of his lands.
  5. Just 13 years old, Eleanor was now the rich and powerful Duchess of Aquitaine.

Keywords

  • Aquitaine - Aquitaine was a large area of modern day France. The person who controlled it was known as the Duke or Duchess of Aquitaine

  • Inherit - somebody will inherit something if it is left to them when someone else dies

Common misconception

Some may think that Aquitaine is the same as modern day France.

Aquitaine was only one area of modern day France, there were lots of areas controlled by different powerful families at this time.

Use a modern map to compare the location of Aquitaine to modern day France.
Teacher tip

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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6 Questions

Q1.
Zheng He made voyages in treasure ships to…
see dolphins
Correct answer: show off his power
go fishing
Q2.
Match each part of a boat to the correct definition.
Correct Answer:hull ,the boat's stiff outer shell

the boat's stiff outer shell

Correct Answer:sail ,a large piece of cloth that catches wind

a large piece of cloth that catches wind

Correct Answer:oar,a long pole with a flat end

a long pole with a flat end

Q3.
Which ocean did Polynesians sail in?
Atlantic Ocean
Correct answer: Pacific Ocean
Arctic Ocean
Q4.
At the time, the SS Great Britain was the largest ever built.
Correct Answer: steamship, steam ship , ship
Q5.
Longboats were used by which group of people?
Correct Answer: Vikings
Q6.
Ancient Minoans and Ancient Greeks explored which sea?
North Sea
Correct answer: Mediterranean Sea
Black Sea

6 Questions

Q1.
Aquitaine was a large area of modern day...
England
Correct answer: France
Germany
Q2.
Eleanor of Aquitaine was born around years ago.
Correct Answer: 900, nine hundred
Q3.
Match each person to the name they had when they controlled Aquitaine.
Correct Answer:Eleanor’s father,Duke of Aquitaine

Duke of Aquitaine

Correct Answer:Eleanor of Aquitaine ,Duchess of Aquitaine

Duchess of Aquitaine

Q4.
What does inherit mean?
To let someone borrow something you own.
Correct answer: To be given something when someone else dies.
To steal something that belongs to someone else.
Q5.
Eleanor had a very good education when she was growing up.
Correct answer: True
False
Q6.
Eleanor became the Duchess of Aquitaine when she was __________ years old.
2
Correct answer: 13
40

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