New
New
Year 5

Europe, the Mediterranean and Asia in the early 9th century world

I can describe important connections, places and empires in the early 9th century.

New
New
Year 5

Europe, the Mediterranean and Asia in the early 9th century world

I can describe important connections, places and empires in the early 9th century.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. The major empires of Europe and Asia were: the Tang, the Abbasids, the Carolingians, the Byzantines, the Umayyads.
  2. In England, the Anglo Saxons were beginning to become one single kingdom.
  3. In Spain, the Abbasid’s Muslim enemies the Umayyads were seeking to expand north into Charlemagne’s Carolingian Empire.
  4. Charlemagne and Al-Rashid, caliph of the Abbasids and ruler of Baghdad, both had growing tension with the Byzantines.
  5. In 801CE, Al-Rashid sent gifts to Charlemagne including an elephant and an automatic water clock.

Keywords

  • Tang - the Tang Dynasty was a powerful empire in ancient China that lasted from 618 to 907 CE

  • Carolingian - Carolingian refers to a powerful family and empire in Europe during the early Middle Ages

  • Charlemagne - the Carolingian Empire was ruled by kings from the Carolingian family; the most famous of whom was Charlemagne

  • Harun Al-Rashid - Harun al-Rashid was a ruler who lived during the Islamic Golden Age in the Abbasid Caliphate. He was born in 763 CE and ruled as the Abbasid Caliph from 786 until his death in 809 CE.

Common misconception

Europe, the Mediterranean, and Asia in the early 9th century were largely isolated, with minimal contact and influence between these regions.

There was much interaction between the regions during this period with extensive trade networks, such as the Silk Road, connected them and political leaders across these regions often maintained diplomatic relations.

Using a world map, show where the various major empires of the early 9th century were located.
Teacher tip

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.
The Byzantine Empire is also known as the Roman Empire.
Northern
Correct answer: Eastern
Southern
Western
Q2.
Match the empire to its capital.
Correct Answer:Byzantine Empire,Constantinople (Istanbul)

Constantinople (Istanbul)

Correct Answer:Abbasid Caliphate,Baghdad

Baghdad

Correct Answer:Western Roman Empire,Rome

Rome

Correct Answer:Umayyad Caliphate ,Damascus

Damascus

Q3.
Match the empire to its main religion
Correct Answer:Byzantine Empire,Eastern Orthodox Christianity

Eastern Orthodox Christianity

Correct Answer:Abbasid Caliphate,Islam

Islam

Correct Answer:Western Roman Empire,Roman Catholicism

Roman Catholicism

Correct Answer:Umayyad Caliphate ,Islam

Islam

Q4.
The head of the Christian church of the Western Roman Empire was the .
Correct Answer: Pope, pope
Q5.
What were the Anglo-Saxons?
a group of Celtic tribes who settled in Britain during the Iron Age
Norse warriors who invaded Britain during the Viking Age
Correct answer: Germanic tribes who migrated to England from Europe during the Early Middle Ages
Roman settlers who established colonies in Britain during the Roman Empire
Q6.
The leader of a caliphate is known as a .
Correct answer: caliph
king
emperor
emir

6 Questions

Q1.
Match the empire of the early 9th century world to its relevant fact.
Correct Answer:Tang Dynasty,ruled from China

ruled from China

Correct Answer:Abbasid Caliphate,had its capital in Baghdad

had its capital in Baghdad

Correct Answer:Carolingian Empire,covered areas we now call France, Germany and Italy

covered areas we now call France, Germany and Italy

Correct Answer:Byzantine Empire,was centred in Constantinople, which we now call Istanbul

was centred in Constantinople, which we now call Istanbul

Correct Answer:Umayyad Caliphate,covered areas in the Middle East, North Africa and Spain

covered areas in the Middle East, North Africa and Spain

Q2.
Germanic tribes who migrated to England from Europe during the Early Middle Ages are known as the .
Romans
Correct answer: Anglo-Saxons
Norse
Celts
Q3.
Match the early 9th century leader to their empire.
Correct Answer:Charlemagne,Carolingian Empire

Carolingian Empire

Correct Answer:Harun al-Rashid,Abbasid Caliphate

Abbasid Caliphate

Q4.
Which religion did Charlemagne follow?
Buddhism
Islam
Correct answer: Roman Catholicism, led by the Pope
Eastern Orthodox Christianity
Q5.
Who sent Charlemagne gifts, including an elephant and an automatic water clock?
the Byzantines
King Alfred the Great
the Pope
Correct answer: Harun al-Rashid
Q6.
The year 801 CE is in which century?
7th century
8th century
Correct answer: 9th century

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