Henry II of England

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/henry-ii-of-england

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. When was Henry II of England born?March 5, 1133, Le Mans, France
2. When did Henry II of England die?July 6, 1189, Chinon, France (age 56)
3. Who was Henry II of England?Henry II was a king who ruled a huge kingdom that included England, parts of Wales, Ireland, and western France. He was born in 1133 and became the most powerful ruler in France after marrying Eleanor of Aquitaine.
4. How did Henry II become king of England?He won the Treaty of Wallingford in 1153, which let him take the English throne after King Stephen died in 1154.

Angevin Empire: A vast collection of territories in England and France ruled by the House of Anjou, peaking under Henry II.
Thomas Becket: Archbishop of Canterbury whose conflict with Henry II over church rights led to his martyrdom.
English Common Law: A legal system developed in England based on judicial precedents and customs, forming the basis of law in many English-speaking countries.
Feudal Overlord: A lord who grants land to a vassal in exchange for loyalty and military service; in this case, the King of France was Henry's overlord for his French lands.