Europe, the Mediterranean and Asia in the early 9th century world
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can describe important connections, places and empires in the early 9th century.
Key learning points
- The major empires of Europe and Asia were: the Tang, the Abbasids, the Carolingians, the Byzantines, the Umayyads.
- In England, the Anglo Saxons were beginning to become one single kingdom.
- In Spain, the Abbasid’s Muslim enemies the Umayyads were seeking to expand north into Charlemagne’s Carolingian Empire.
- Charlemagne and Al-Rashid, caliph of the Abbasids and ruler of Baghdad, both had growing tension with the Byzantines.
- 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.
Teacher tip
Using a world map, show where the various major empires of the early 9th century were located.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.The Byzantine Empire is also known as the Roman Empire.
Q2.Match the empire to its capital.
Constantinople (Istanbul)
Baghdad
Rome
Damascus
Q3.Match the empire to its main religion
Eastern Orthodox Christianity
Islam
Roman Catholicism
Islam
Q4.The head of the Christian church of the Western Roman Empire was the .
Q5.What were the Anglo-Saxons?
Q6.The leader of a caliphate is known as a .
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Match the empire of the early 9th century world to its relevant fact.
ruled from China
had its capital in Baghdad
covered areas we now call France, Germany and Italy
was centred in Constantinople, which we now call Istanbul
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 .
Q3.Match the early 9th century leader to their empire.
Carolingian Empire
Abbasid Caliphate
Q4.Which religion did Charlemagne follow?
Q5.Who sent Charlemagne gifts, including an elephant and an automatic water clock?
Q6.The year 801 CE is in which century?
To help you plan your 5 history lesson on: Europe, the Mediterranean and Asia in the early 9th century world, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 5 history lesson on: Europe, the Mediterranean and Asia in the early 9th century world, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
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