History / Year 8 / Historical Knowledge and Understanding

Curriculum content descriptions

Significant developments and/or cultural achievements, such as changing relations between Islam and the West (including the Crusades), architecture, medieval manuscripts and music (ACDSEH050)

Elaborations
  • describing the features of castles and churches of the period (for example, Warwick Castle in England and Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris) as examples of the Church’s power in terms of its control of wealth and labour
  • researching inventions and developments in the Islamic world and their subsequent adoption in the Western world
  • recognising that the medieval manuscripts of monastic scribes contributed to the survival of many ancient Greek and Roman literary texts
  • examining the religious nature of illuminated manuscripts and how they were the product of a complex and frequently costly process
  • listening to the Gregorian chants of Western Christianity and exploring how they reflect the nature and power of the Church in this period
General capabilities
  • Critical and creative thinking Critical and creative thinking
  • Intercultural understanding Intercultural understanding
ScOT terms

Middle Ages,  International relations,  Religious conflict,  Medieval art,  Medieval music

Video

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Foreign Correspondent: The Battle of Hastings, again!

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Image

Troopers at Dagworth Station, c1894

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Secondary history: historical inquiry - research

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Cartoon of an Australian wife kissing a US soldier, 1943

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'Vaccination Day in Port Mackay!', 1877

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Video

Foreign Correspondent: Dirty tricks in 1066

How was William of Normandy able to defeat the Saxon army of Harold Godwinson in 1066 and become the king of England? The Norman's victory at Hastings marked the beginning of their complete conquest of England over the following few years. Discover the tactics of both sides in the Battle of Hastings. This clip is the second ...

Video

Life in Medieval Europe: Trading for food

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BTN: Australia and Vietnam War

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Life in Medieval Europe: Good and bad medicine

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Online

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Interactive

Battle of Hastings - game

This interactive game is about the Battle of Hastings in 1066 AD. Students are presented with a battlefield with two armies facing one other. They must decide whether to take the part of William of Normandy or of the Saxon king Harold Godwinson and choose from a range of tactics. Text and sound effects accompany the game. ...

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Black Death: the effect of the plague

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