Kings
To whom is the author referring in the first line when they say, “The great conqueror is dead”?
King William I, who was known as William the Conqueror
Based on the context in which it is used, what does turmoil mean?
unrest, confusion
The author uses the phrase law and order in the first sentence on this page, as well as in the chapter title. From the context, what do you think this sentence means?
This sentence means that King Henry II focused his attention on changing the laws of England to restore order, or peace.
Why did King Henry II appoint Thomas Becket the archbishop of Canterbury?
King Henry wanted to control the power of the Church, and he thought his friendship with Thomas Becket would help him do this. The archbishop of Canterbury was the most powerful Church leader in England.
Who was Eleanor of Aquitaine?
She was married to Henry II, and had previously been married to the king of France
In this image on page 59, why might King Henry be holding a model of the abbey church he founded?
The Church was a very powerful and influential institution in the Middle Ages, and King Henry was probably proud of founding that church.
Why might England have experienced a period of turmoil after the death of William? Cite evidence from the text.
William was a very powerful leader who controlled many things. When he died, there wasn’t anyone else as powerful and able to rule the way he did. “Power hungry nobles fought each other, and some even challenged the ruling kings.”
The text says that in the Middle Ages, there was a method of proving someone was innocent called trial by ordeal. Reread the second paragraph to see if you can figure out what trial by ordeal means.
Trial by ordeal was having someone who was accused of a crime prove they were innocent by picking up a piece of very hot metal, being tossed into a pond, or fighting an opponent. If the accused survived the ordeal, they were innocent.
How did Thomas Becket react to King Henry’s plan to reduce the power of the Church?
Thomas Becket disagreed.
On page 63 What does the word plotted mean here?
Planned
What were the Crusades?
The Crusades were attempts by people in Europe, commanded by the pope and kings in Europe, to reclaim the holy city of Jerusalem from the Muslims.
Mercilessly means “done with cruelty or harshness.” What part of speech is mercilessly? (Hint: You learned about this part of speech in a previous grammar lesson.)
adverb
Would a trip from Europe to Jerusalem during the Middle Ages have been easy or difficult? Why?
Difficult.
that it took two years to travel there; crusaders had to travel over both land and sea; they experienced very hot and very cold temperatures; many travelers became sick on the journey.
What did King Henry say about Thomas Becket at a royal dinner, with many nobles in attendance?
King Henry said, “Will no one rid me of this troublesome priest?”
What was the nickname given to Eleanor and Henry’s oldest son, Richard, and how did he earn it?
Richard the Lion-Hearted; he was very brave.
What were some of the positive things that resulted from the Crusades?
As a result of the Crusades, trading relationships developed between Europe and the Middle East, and there was an exchange of knowledge, especially in the fields of science, mathematics, art, and architecture.
What does the word Reign mean?
The time in which a king or queen rules the country
“Will no one rid me of this troublesome priest?”
Four knights overheard the statement and decided to take action. What did they do?
Assassinated Thomas Becket as he was kneeling in prayer in Canterbury Cathedral.
“Will no one rid me of this troublesome priest?”
What are some different ways this question could be interpreted?
A request that one of the nobles help him get rid of Thomas Becket, or simply a statement of frustration.
The crime of being disloyal to one's country