Leaders & Legends
Thinkers, Reformers, & Belief
Exploration & Cultures
War & Conflict
Crisis & Change
100
This Viking explorer established the first Norse settlement on Greenland after being exiled from Iceland.
Who is Erik the Red?
100
This Christian tradition, centered in Egypt, developed separately from the Roman Catholic Church.
What is the Coptic Orthodox Church?
100
This Chinese dynasty was known for advances in technology, trade, and urban life.
What is the Song Dynasty?
100
This battle in 1066 marked the beginning of Norman rule in England.
What is the Battle of Hastings?
100
This medieval legal document limited the power of the English king for the first time.
What is the Magna Carta?
200
This 11th-century Scottish ruler is remembered both as a historical king and as the subject of a famous tragedy by William Shakespeare.
Who is Macbeth?
200
These reform groups challenged Church practices by emphasizing simplicity and a return to early Christian teachings.
Who are the Waldensians (and Petrobrusians)?
200
This Japanese system placed military leaders in control while the emperor remained a figurehead.
What is the shogunate system?
200
This conflict between popes and emperors centered on who had the authority to appoint church officials.
What is the Investiture Controversy?
200
This literary work, though fictional, reflects tensions around justice, authority, and inequality in medieval society.
What is the legend of Robin Hood?
300
This Norman leader changed the course of English history with his victory in 1066.
Who is William the Conqueror?
300
This scholar used logic and philosophy to explain Christian theology, helping shape medieval education.
Who is Thomas Aquinas?
300
This warrior class in Japan followed a strict code emphasizing loyalty and honor.
Who are the samurai?
300
These religious wars began in 1096 with the goal of capturing the Holy Land.
What are the Crusades?
300
This disease drastically reduced Europe’s population and reshaped its economic structure.
What is the Black Death? (Also allowed: What is the Plague?)
400
This Spanish military leader became a symbol of Christian resistance during the Reconquista.
Who is El Cid?
400
This thinker emphasized experimentation and observation, anticipating later scientific methods.
Who is Roger Bacon?
400
This Mongol-established dynasty ruled China before being replaced by the Ming.
What is the Yuan Dynasty?
400
This failed movement involved thousands of young people attempting to reclaim the Holy Land.
What is the Children’s Crusade?
400
This queen’s marriages to two powerful kings made her one of the most influential women in medieval Europe.
Who is Eleanor of Aquitaine?
500
This English king was forced by his nobles to limit his power, marking a major step toward constitutional government.
Who is King John?
500
These three religious leaders emphasized poverty, service, and preaching, reshaping spiritual life in the Middle Ages.
Who are Francis of Assisi, Clare of Assisi, and Dominic of Osma?
500
This system of secure trade routes across Eurasia thrived under Mongol control, helping connect China, the Middle East, and Europe.
What is the Silk Road?
500
This conflict between Richard the Lionheart and Saladin demonstrated both intense warfare and moments of mutual respect between opposing leaders.
What is the Third Crusade?
500
This major technological advancement allowed ideas to spread rapidly, contributing to religious and cultural transformation.
What is the printing press?