Early Middle Ages

High school (ages 12+)
History & Culture

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/early-middle-ages

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the periodization?Late 5th century to 10th century
2. What is the key societal structure?Emergence and development of the feudal system
3. What happened to Europe after the Roman Empire fell?Europe changed a lot: cities shrank, people moved to farms, and new ways of farming and living appeared.
4. How did farmers make more food in the Early Middle Ages?They used a heavy plough and a three‑field system, which let them grow on richer soil and leave one third of the land rest each year.

Late Antiquity: A transitional period bridging the classical world and the Middle Ages, emphasizing continuity with the Roman Empire.
Carolingian Empire: A large empire in Western Europe founded by Charlemagne, which significantly influenced subsequent European history and culture.
Viking Expansion: The period of Norse exploration, raiding, and settlement across Europe and beyond, from the late 8th to the 11th centuries.
Rashidun Caliphate: The first of the four major caliphates established after the death of the Prophet Muhammad, known for its rapid territorial expansion.