Course Length: Full academic year (30 weeks)
This Year's Schedule: Click here to view
Aims of the Course
The aim of this course (designed for ages 12-16) is to take students on an in-depth and exciting journey through the Middle Ages in Europe from the 13th to 15th centuries. On our way, we will discover how Medieval people saw the world, what they ate, how they dressed, worked, played and lived their daily lives. We’ll discover some of the buildings, such as castles and churches, and the treasures that they left behind and we’ll also study some of the big events of the Middle Ages, including the Black Death, the Hundred Years War, the Wars of the Roses and the Renaissance.
We’ll be working with some of the original documentary sources from the time, including royal records, the famous Chronicles and manuscripts such as the beautiful Luttrell Psalter to hear the authentic voices of the time, as well as learning from some of the leading modern Historians who write about the Middle Ages. Weekly documentary watching helps bring the period to life, and students are strongly encouraged to visit sites near them, which are related to our topics, whenever possible.
Some of the books we'll be reading from are A Castle with Many Rooms (Lambert) and Twain's Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court.
Homework Expectations
The homework each week is to read about 50-60 pages of text, watch at least one documentary, write a short summary and answer three short discussion questions which are often based on completion of a short research task on a variety of topics including cooking and taste testing medieval food, designing your own castle, and writing the diary of a medieval peasant.
Students attend a weekly one hour webinar where we have lots of class discussions and debates (with me talking and the students typing in the chatbox) about the key features of each week’s topic. There is also the (optional) opportunity to take over the role of teacher and do three presentations in class during the year as well as a range of other optional fun add-on activities.
How It Supports Your Child's Education
For UK students and other students wishing to take UK style exams, while the course does not lead directly to a specific IGCSE/GCSE qualification, the Longbows and Roses course introduces and reinforces many of the skills needed for successful progression to exam courses.
For US students, this course can fulfill a high school credit in World History.
Who Teaches History: Longbows and Roses?
Yvonne Mason took her undergraduate degree in English Language and Literature, then an MA in Medieval Studies from Royal Holloway in London while working as a costumed historical interpreter at the Tower of London. She has bee working as an online tutor since 2001 in both English and history. She home educates her daughter, and is an avid embroiderer in her spare time. She has plans to study for a PhD in Medieval Studies very soon.See all courses taught by Yvonne