Aztecs Find a Home: The Eagle Has Landed
https://edsitement.neh.gov/lesson-plan/aztecs-find-home-eagle-has-landed

WEB LESSON The lesson considers the history of the Aztec people of Mexico and their capital, Tenochtitlan. Once a nomadic people, the Aztecs began to build permanent settlements about A.D. 1325. According to their tradition, they were told by one of their gods to settle where they saw an eagle perched on a cactus, eating a snake. After a hundred years of wandering, they finally found this sign. They saw the eagle, the cactus, and the snake on a small reed-covered island in the shallow waters of Lake Texcoco. In obedience to the god's instruction, they started to build there the city of Tenochtitlan.Elem-MS

ID: 27. Added: 2011-09-23 20:43:31

Renaissance Man Comparison Poster
http://www.pbs.org/empires/islam/lesson5.html

WEB LESSON This lesson is based on Video Three of the PBS video series Islam: Empire of Faith, though it may be adapted if the video is not available. Students will learn about both the Sultan Suleiman (b. 1494 AD) and another Renaissance character and make comparisons. They will then create a poster showing the accomplishments and many facets of Suleiman and another character's life that make them worthy of the term "Renaissance Man." MS

ID: 88. Added: 2011-10-07 00:10:51

Akbar's Debate: Mughal Empire, 16th-17th Centuries CE
http://www.pbs.org/thestoryofindia/teachers/lessons/5/

WEB LESSON Using new weaponry, the Mughals swept into India and easily defeated the ailing Delhi Sultanate. The Mughals established an empire that reached all but the southern tip of India. Akbar was the most acclaimed Mughal emperor, both for his military successes and spiritual leadership. He understood that religious and cultural differences between the peoples of India would undermine the stability he hoped to maintain. He pursued policies of religious tolerance and became a student of all religions. His attempt to fuse the basic tenets of the major Indian belief systems into a new religion never gained popularity and disappeared soon after his death.

ID: 179. Added: 2011-12-24 01:53:26

Legacies and Transfers: Story of the Transfer of Knowledge from Islamic Spain to Europe
http://www.islamicspain.tv/For-Teachers/11_Legacies%20and%20Transfers%20Story%20of%20Transfer%20of%20Knowledge.pdf

WEB LESSON This lesson emphasizes the translation effort and the legacy of Islamic Spain for the European Renaissance and modern science. It traces the origins of the ancient and classical traditions and follows their preservation in 8th to 10th century Muslim civilization, and the flowering of learning in Muslim societies, including Spain. The reading describes the process of translation and transfer of the heritage of Greek and Arabic learning to Western Europe through Spain in the 11th and 12th centuries, and its impact on cultural life in Europe that led to the Renaissance and Scientific Revolution. A primary source activity and a map activity reinforce and deepen engagement with the content. MS - HS

ID: 206. Added: 2011-12-24 04:07:16

Scholarship and Learning in Islam
http://ca.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/islam08.socst.world.glob.lplearning/scholarship-and-learning-in-islam/

WEB LESSON In this lesson, students look at several aspects of the long tradition of Islamic learning. They are introduced to the Islamic religious school known as the madrasah, where students begin their religious education by studying the Qur'an. A video segment from the PBS series Religion & Ethics Newsweekly (free registration required) features Dr. Roy Parvis Mottahedeh, a scholar who presents a madrasah in operation today and speaks about the historical evolution of madrasahs. Another Religion & Ethics video segment describes the history of the mosque at Timbuktu which, in the fourteenth century, was a vibrant center of Islamic scholarship. A third video segment links astronomy to the annual celebration of the religious holiday of Ramadan. As a culminating project, students develop graphic presentations about scholarship and learning in Islam. MS

ID: 207. Added: 2011-12-24 04:10:52

Achievements and Contributions of Al-Andalus: Exploration of Material Culture and Science
http://www.islamicspain.tv/For-Teachers/9_Achievements%20and%20Contributions%20of%20Al-Andalus%20_material%20culture%20grid_.pdf

WEB LESSON During the more than 700 years of Muslim rule in the Iberian Peninsula, Muslim culture was both a center for receiving influences from other Muslim lands, and a center of innovation and adaptation in material culture and the sciences. Through an interface either on the Cities of Light web pages, or through a system of handouts printed from the web site at and made available to the class for study, students will use select readings and images that introduce them to a range of arts, sciences and technologies that contributed to the material culture of al-Andalus and its dissemination to other cultures.MS-HS

ID: 264. Added: 2012-01-08 21:55:27

Geography and History of the Arabian Peninsula, and Overview of Islam
http://www.theislamproject.org/muhammad/muhammad_04_GeographyArabianPeninsula.htm

WEB LESSON This activity provides students with background information on the context of the Arabian Peninsula during the sixth and seventh centuries of the Common Era. The background lesson asks students to think about the influence of religion on personal life and the larger society.

ID: 295. Added: 2012-02-16 00:09:34

Shari'ah: An Islamic Law Simulation
http://www.theislamproject.org/education/lawsimulation.html

WEB LESSON This simulation by Joan Brodsky Schur is designed to help students understand the origins of Shari'ah, or Islamic law, and the kind of legal thinking and scholarship that went into formulating it during the Abbasid caliphate (749-1258 C.E.). In the simulation students play the roles of judges, claimants, and defendants. After hearing a case presented to them, the qadis (judges) must pass judgment on it by consulting a variety of Islamic sources. The simulation does not go into the differences among the various schools of Islamic law nor does it pretend to help students arrive at "right answers" to legal questions posed in the simulation. Rather it is meant to help students understand the process by which Shari'ah developed and its import in molding a civil society across a vast geographical area. MS - HS

ID: 301. Added: 2012-02-16 03:24:13

Journey Along the Silk Road: Writing Your Own Rihla, or Travel Journal
http://www.theislamproject.org/education/RihlaTravelJournal.htm

WEB LESSON This lesson plan ties together the subjects of history, geography, religion, art and economics as students make up a 13th - 15th century character and write a Rihla, or Travel Journal describing their journey from their home to one of the great Islamic cities known for its grand markets and universities. Since people traveled primarily along the great trade routes, students will learn about the Silk Road as well as the Islamic world as they work on this project. The students can write their travel journal as if they're traveling for the sake of trade, education, or religious pilgrimage, or even a combination within those options, since people often combined things like trade and intellectual pursuits on one trip. MS - HS

ID: 302. Added: 2012-02-16 03:29:07

St. Thomas Aquinas, Natural Law, and the Common Good
http://www.crf-usa.org/bill-of-rights-in-action/bria-22-4-c-st-thomas-aquinas-natural-law-and-the-common-good

WEB LESSON In this Constitutional Rights lesson, students examine St. Thomas Aquinas, a medieval Roman Catholic scholar, who reconciled the political philosophy of Aristotle with Christian faith. In doing so, he contended that a just ruler or government must work for the "common good" of all. MS - HS

ID: 363. Added: 2012-05-04 01:00:40

Not Everyone Lived in Castles During the Middle Ages
http://edsitement.neh.gov/lesson-plan/not-everyone-lived-castles-during-middle-ages#sect-introduction

WEB LESSON This EDSITEment 3-lesson unit of study on the Middle Ages features one on life in early medieval monasteries. The lesson links to images of some a famous monasteries with descriptions of how the rooms were used. The Rule of Saint Benedict is described along with the history of the Benedictine Order. Upper Elementary - MS

ID: 486. Added: 2013-03-26 16:12:17

The Inquisition: Looking into the Human Soul
http://www.crf-usa.org/bill-of-rights-in-action/bria-9-1-a-the-inquisition-looking-into-the-human-soul#.UWMPrhlUOS8

WEB LESSON This Constitutional Rights lesson explores how the issue of heresy was handled by the Church in the Middle Ages. It demonstrates what breeches of justice might happen when trials are conducted where there is no protection for the rights of the accused. Students try to discern what would have been different had the rights in the Bill of Rights been applied at that time. MS-HS

ID: 534. Added: 2013-04-08 17:27:54

Canon Law: Medieval Europe's Legal System
http://www.crf-usa.org/images/pdf/members/bria_27_2wb.pdf

WEB LESSON This Bill of Rights in Action article and lesson activity by the Constitutional Rights Foundation discusses the origins, basic principles, and impact of the Christian-based legal system in medieval Europe. The lesson is free but to access the material, users must register. HS

ID: 543. Added: 2013-04-27 21:14:45

Oliver Cromwell: The Lord Protector
https://www.crf-usa.org/images/pdf/members/bria_27_2wb.pdf

WEB LESSON To reach this lesson scroll down from "Canon Law" to the lesson "Oliver Cromwell". Cromwell is one of the most controversial figures in English history. During the English Civil War in the mid 17th c. he abolished the monarchy and set up Puritan rule. That rule tolerated other Protestants but allowed no rights for Catholics. With no king or parliament, Cromwell made himself "Lord Protector." This Constitutional Rights Foundation BRIA lesson asks students to evaluate the life and rule of Cromwell. Requires free registration to access the material at CRF. MS-HS

ID: 544. Added: 2013-04-27 22:24:49

Dark Ages, The
https://sheg.stanford.edu/history-lessons/dark-ages

WEB LESSON In this multi-day Stanford History Education Group lesson, students question the validity of using "Dark Ages" to describe Europe from the fall of the Roman Empire to the Renaissance. In the process, students examine a variety of primary and secondary religious, political, and economic sources highlighting different social, political, economic, cultural, and environmental facets of life in Europe during this period. The get full access for students to find the materials, make sure to create a free account for the Stanford History Education Group.

ID: 625. Added: 2013-10-05 04:49:30

Moctezuma and Cortes
https://sheg.stanford.edu/history-lessons/moctezuma-and-cortes

WEB LESSON The popular idea about the meeting between Emperor Moctezuma and conquistador Hernan Cortes is that Moctezuma mistook the Spanish invaders for gods. How does this compare to what the historical record tells us? In this lesson, students read from two 16th century sources and one contemporary historian's interpretation of the event to answer the questions: What happened when Moctezuma met Cortes? What role did religion play? To access all the needed materials, don't forget to set up a free account for the Stanford History Education Group MS-HS

ID: 633. Added: 2013-10-17 03:19:22

Understanding the Black Death
https://sheg.stanford.edu/history-lessons/understanding-black-death

WEB LESSON The bubonic plague of the 14th century ravaged communities across three continents. The plague left long lasting consequences and ultimately helped transform the social order of Europe. In this Stanford History Education Group lesson, students compare two documents written in 1348 to consider how people experienced and understood the plague and how religion influenced their thinking. Don't forget to create a free account in order to access all the materials from Stanford History Education Group. MS-HS

ID: 634. Added: 2013-10-17 03:25:53

Martin Luther
https://sheg.stanford.edu/history-lessons/martin-luther

WEB LESSON The writings of Martin Luther helped spur the Reformation and inspired the rise of Protestantism in the 16th century. Luther gave different reasons for his break from the Catholic Church at different times in his life. This Stanford History Education Group 9sheg)lesson features two sources attributed to Luther - an excerpt from the letter he wrote that accompanied what came to be his 95 Theses and part of a talk he gave later in life. Students compare the documents and consider how to weigh contrasting accounts of history written by the same person. Don't forget to create a free SHEG account to access all the materials MS-HS

ID: 635. Added: 2013-10-17 03:30:28

Atahualpa and the Bible
https://sheg.stanford.edu/history-lessons/atahualpa-and-bible

WEB LESSON The meeting between Atahualpa, emperor of the Inca Empire, and Francisco Pizarro, Spanish conquistador, was a defining moment in Latin American history. In this Opening Up the Textbook Stanford History Education Group lesson plan, students read a textbook account of the event followed by two primary sources to answer this question: Did Atahualpa hold the Bible to his ear? Don't forget to create a SHEG account to access all the materials for the lessons.MS-HS

ID: 636. Added: 2013-10-17 03:34:48

Queen Elizabeth I: Religion & State
http://www.crf-usa.org/images/pdf/members/bria_29_2_web.pdf

WEB LESSON Queen Elizabeth tried to establish her vision of an official Protestant Church. She faced many obstacles: Catholic plots, Protestant Puritans, a rival Catholic queen, and even the question of who would succeed her on the throne. This CRF lesson requires registration but is free.MS-HS

ID: 676. Added: 2014-03-01 18:39:13

Genghis Khan and the Mongol Empire
http://www.crf-usa.org/images/pdf/members/bria_28_2wb.pdf

WEB RESOURCE & LESSON This CRF Bill of Rights in Action article describes the life and beliefs of Genghis Khan and how he expanded the Mongol Empire into one of the largest in world history. To find it, scroll to the 3rd article. Genghis Khan believed that he had been given the divine mission of conquering and ruling wherever the "blue sky" extended but he did not impose his religious beliefs on others. One of his laws said that "All religions must be treated with deference and not discriminated against." As he conquered he moved people around the empire thus transmitting new ideas, art and cultural styles, scientific knowledge, political skills, and varied religions around a huge area. After reading the article, students assess the life and rule of Genghis Khan.

ID: 745. Added: 2014-11-25 22:38:20

Spread of Islam (634 - 750 CE)
http://www.chinainstitute.cieducationportal.org/cimain/wp-content/themes/chinainstitute/pdfs/education/fromsilktooil_pdf4.pdf

WEB LESSON Select Unit E from this section of the curriculum on Ethnic Relations and Political History Along the Silk Roads. The spread of Islam from Arabia to the rest of the Middle East and beyond is one of the great military and political achievements of the ancient world. The story begins with the Hijra (Arabic for "Migration") in 622 CE, when Muhammad (c. 570-632) and his followers went from Mecca to Medina to escape powerful enemies and forge new alliances. See the primary documents that guided people about the religious reasons for pushing Muslim expansion.

ID: 772. Added: 2015-01-06 04:34:12

"Go Boldly!" - Joan of Arc and the Hundred Years War
http://www.crf-usa.org/images/pdf/members/bria_30_2_wb.pdf

CONTENT RESOURSE & CLASSROOM ACTIVITY Religion and and government have come in conflict throughout history but never more dramatically than in the story of Joan of Arc in the late Middle Ages. She believed she heard voices from God that said she should act to prevent the English from taking over the French monarchy. In this CRF activity, students evaluate primary sources to determine the validity of the resources used in her trial for heresy. Though she was convicted by the Inquisition for violating Catholic Christian teachings, this was later reversed and she was made a saint.

ID: 790. Added: 2015-03-23 01:05:55

Of Codes and Crowns - The Development of Law
http://www.crf-usa.org/materials-catalog/of-codes-and-crowns-textbook.html

TEXT & LESSON BOOK This brief volume explores the development of law from the ancient world to the Renaissance including contributions by the Babylonians, the Greeks, the Jews, and the Romans, the Muslims, the English,and the Catholic Christian Church.

ID: 826. Added: 2016-05-24 11:51:12

Religion, Political Power, and the Thirty Years' War
http://www.crf-usa.org/images/pdf/members/bria_32_2wb.pdf

WEB RESOURCE & LESSON This is an article and lesson from CRF Bill of Rights in Action (Winter 2017). It begins with a short article about the causes, course, and resolution of the religious wars in Europe in the 16th c. The students read the article and then use it for evidence to answer the question: Was the Thirty Years War about Religion or Political Power?

ID: 848. Added: 2017-07-08 16:02:42

Akbar's Debate
http://www.pbs.org/thestoryofindia/teachers/lessons/5/

WEB LESSON Akbar proved to be the most acclaimed Mughal emperor, both for his military successes and spiritual leadership. He understood that religious and cultural differences between the peoples of India would undermine the stability he hoped to maintain. He pursued policies of religious tolerance and became a student of all religions. His attempt to fuse the basic tenets of the major Indian belief systems into a new religion never gained popularity and disappeared soon after his death. This lesson uses the PBS "Story of India" that includes resource links to an overview of the religions used in the lesson.

ID: 908. Added: 2019-02-13 14:59:57

The Long Reach of the Major Religions 1500 - 1800 CE
https://whfua.history.ucla.edu/units/six/landscape/Era06_landscape7.php

WEB LESSON UNIT This unit seeks to describe the spread of Islam and Christianity into new areas and to see religion generally as an integral factor of change during the period 1500-1800. One of the major challenges facing those who wished to spread their faith was determining what its relationships should be with the various states and societies where it took root. The carriers of these two universal faiths had to figure out how much to insist on the purity and orthodoxy of each of their faiths and how much they should adapt and broaden their religion's beliefs and practices to include many local cultural elements. This tension is the underlying theme of this unit. Lessons included: Lesson 1: The Protestant Reformation Lesson 2: The Counter Reformation and Religious Struggles in Europe Lesson 3: The Spread of Christianity in the Western Hemisphere Lesson 4: Hindus and Muslims and the Development of the Sikh Religion in India Lesson 5: Islam Spreads in Southeast Asia

ID: 919. Added: 2019-02-21 17:46:58

1300 - 1570: The Protestant Reformation
https://whfua.history.ucla.edu/units/six/closeup/Era06_closeup671.php

WEB LESSON The Reformation was a movement that aimed at reforming the Roman Catholic Church. Instead, it resulted in a tumultuous schism that put an end to the unity of the Western Christian world. The Protestant Reformation led to a restructuring of the social system of Europe and changed the face of Christianity. The Reformation is the root of all the branches of modern-day Protestantism. In nailing his Ninety-Five Theses to the door of Wittenberg Cathedral, Martin Luther, a Catholic monk and teacher, hoped to draw attention to what he saw as corruption in the Church. In particular, he objected to the selling of indulgences. Luther also objected to the Church's teachings on a more fundamental level. He had come to believe that salvation was obtainable only through faith and was not something that could be granted by the Church. Luther's actions began the movement that became known as the Protestant Reformation.

ID: 920. Added: 2019-02-21 17:56:19

Umayyad and Abbasid Empires
https://courses.lumenlearning.com/boundless-worldhistory/chapter/the-umayyad-and-abbasid-empires/

WEB LESSON After Muhammad's death, many Arabian tribes rejected Islam or withheld the alms tax established by Muhammad. Many tribes claimed that they had submitted to Muhammad and that with Muhammad's death, their allegiance had ended. Caliph Abu Bakr insisted that they had not just submitted to a leader, but joined the Islamic community of Ummah.

ID: 1012. Added: 2021-07-06 14:46:11

Islamic Science in the Middle Ages
http://ca3rsproject.org/pdfs/Islamic-Science-Middle-Ages.pdf

Muslims were the world's leading scientists in the Middle Ages, also known as the post-classical period. Why did Islamic science lead the world in the Middle Ages? Students learn about advancements in mathematics, astronomy, medicine, geography, and the scientific method in the Islamic world from the 9th century to the 14th century. In a small-group activity, students rank these advancements and provide rationales for their choices.

ID: 1062. Added: 2023-01-18 19:07:51

History of the Jews of Turkey: A Document‐Based Question Unit for World History
https://minio.la.utexas.edu/webeditor-files/mes/pdf/turkish_jews_dbq.pdf

WEB LESSON Student Task: Using your knowledge of history and information from the documents, answer the questions that follow each document. Consider not only what the document said but also its context (who, where, when and why). As you do so, keep in mind the following question. Guiding Question: What information from the documents best describes the nature of the historic relationship between Jews and Turks?

ID: 1079. Added: 2023-04-13 17:35:25

How did world religions change and spread during the early modern period? How did Sikhism begin, change and spread during the early modern period?
https://chssp.sf.ucdavis.edu/resources/curriculum/lessons/sikhism

WEB LESSON After downloading the primary source set, students focus on the beliefs and practices of Sikhism, the youngest and fifth largest world religion, with special attention to two moments: the establishment of Sikhism under Guru Nanak in the fifteenth century and the transformation of Sikhism under Guru Gobind Singh in the late seventeenth century. Students explore how the historical context in South Asia at these two moments influenced the religion to emerge and change.

ID: 1097. Added: 2023-07-28 10:59:46