Background to the Crusades: the Byzantine Empire
I can describe the position of Byzantium in the 11th century and the problems it faced.
Background to the Crusades: the Byzantine Empire
I can describe the position of Byzantium in the 11th century and the problems it faced.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Byzantium considered itself to be the successor to the Roman Empire.
- Byzantium was a Christian empire.
- The reign of Justinian I was a high point for the Byzantine Empire.
- By the 11th century, the Byzantine Empire had been weakened by a series of internal conflicts.
- By the 11th century, Byzantium was facing external threats from the Seljuk Turks.
Keywords
Empire - an empire is a group of territories ruled over by one person or group of people
Idolatry - idolatry is the worship of images
Iconoclasm - iconoclasm is the destruction of holy images
Eastern Orthodox - Eastern Orthodox Christianity was the form of Christianity practised in the Byzantine Empire
Common misconception
Towns and cities are called by the same name as they were given when they were founded.
Towns and cities all over the world have changed their name repeatedly for a wide variety of reasons. For example, York was called Eboracum by the Romans, Eoforwick by the Saxons and Jorvik by the Vikings!
To help you plan your year 7 history lesson on: Background to the Crusades: the Byzantine Empire, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 7 history lesson on: Background to the Crusades: the Byzantine Empire, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 3 history lessons from the The Crusades: did Europeans go on crusade to capture the 'holy land'? unit, dive into the full secondary history curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
- Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
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Starter quiz
6 Questions
Exit quiz
6 Questions
the worship of images
the destruction of holy images
the form of Christianity practised in the Byzantine Empire