Western Europe

This biography of Henry IV focuses on the dispute with Pope Gregory VII over lay investiture, his subsequent excommunication, the journey to Canossa, and the legacy of his reign over the Holy Roman Empire. The biography includes a series of questions...

This biography of Charlemagne, the first "Emperor of the Romans," focuses on his rise to power, his role in reforming both the monetary of educational systems of Europe, and the collapse of European unity upon his death in 814CE. The biography includes...

This documentary on the Crusades is an excellent resource for both understanding the history behind these holy wars and for examining the current atmosphere of mistrust between Christians and Muslims. Starting in the late 11th Century, when Pope Urban...

An annotated timeline is an excellent way to help your students organize important events related to the rise and fall of the Roman Empire.   This project begins with a PowerPoint that introduces the guidelines for students. The PowerPoint also...

Perfect Grab and Go Lesson! We can all agree that providing students visual content enhances instruction…Especially this generation of students. One of the easiest ways to do this is show your students a video. The only problem is there is just so...

This biography leads students through the rise of the Byzantine emperor, Justinian I. The biography focuses on Justinian's goals of re-uniting the Roman Empire, and describes the challenges Justinian faced during his reign, including criticism that his...

This biography of Constantine the Great focuses on his early life and education, his service in the Roman army, and his eventual rise to Roman emperor. Additionally, the biography traces Constantine's gradual conversion to Christianity. The biography...

This biography of Augustus describes his origins, including his introduction to public life by Julius Caesar. The biography traces Augustus' rise to power and the beginning of the Pax Romana. The biography includes a series of questions based on the...

This resource contains five biographies on Enlightenment thinkers and their ideas about the nature of government. The collection includes Niccolò Machiavelli, Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, Charles de Montesquieu, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau. The...