Crusades and Conflict

Overview

This 60-minute lesson introduces Year 7 students to the Crusades within the historical context of Medieval Britain (1066–1509), with a particular focus on the Crusades in Africa and the Near East. It links this period to contemporary conflicts in Africa, fostering historical understanding and critical thinking about conflict causes and cultural perspectives. The lesson draws on the film Kingdom of Heaven as a cultural resource to engage students and develop media literacy.

National Curriculum Links

• History Programme of Study for Key Stage 3 (Years 7–9), National Curriculum for England:
  • Pupils should be taught:
    • “the development of Church, state and society in Medieval Britain 1066–1509” including “key events, roles of significant individuals and consequences of these.”
    • “the wider world: medieval society in Europe and beyond, including the significance of religious belief.”
  • Historical skills:
    • Understand characteristic features of the past, including ideas, beliefs, attitudes and experiences of men, women and children.
    • Use evidence to ask questions and find answers to questions about the past.
    • Understand that the past is represented and interpreted in different ways.

Learning Objectives

By the end of the lesson, students will be able to:

1. Describe the key events and figures involved in the Crusades (especially in Africa and the Holy Land).
2. Explain how and why the Crusades were significant in Medieval Britain and wider medieval Europe.
3. Analyse connections between medieval crusading conflicts and modern-day conflicts in Africa.
4. Critically evaluate the portrayal of the Crusades in the film Kingdom of Heaven as a cultural interpretation.
5. Participate in group discussion to compare historical and modern conflicts, demonstrating respectful argument and evidence-based reasoning.

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Lesson Breakdown (60 minutes)

1. Starter Activity – Historical Brainstorm (5 minutes)

• Display the word “Crusades” and ask students to share any words, people, events, or images they associate with it (record responses visibly).
• Clarify the lesson’s focus: Crusades in Africa (including the Holy Land and Egypt) and their broader impact.

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2. Teacher Input – Historical Overview (15 minutes)

• Presentation: "The Crusades 1096–1291" (slide or visual aid)
  • Definition: Military campaigns sanctioned by the Church with political, religious and economic motives.
  • Key events:
    • The First Crusade (1096–1099) – capture of Jerusalem.
    • Saladin’s leadership and the 1187 recapture of Jerusalem.
    • The role of Egypt as a crusading battleground.
  • Important figures:
    • Richard the Lionheart (England), Saladin (Muslim leader), Pope Urban II (initiator).
• Explain how the Crusades engaged Medieval Britain, influencing politics, religion, and culture.
• Introduce Kingdom of Heaven as a historical drama film that offers one interpretation of these events but with artistic licence.

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3. Video Clip & Reflection (10 minutes)

• Show a carefully selected 5-minute clip from Kingdom of Heaven highlighting a significant event (e.g., depiction of the siege of Jerusalem or character interactions showcasing religious conflict).
• Ask students to jot down initial impressions — what did the film get right or wrong? How did it make them feel? What perspectives seemed emphasised?

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4. Group Discussion & Comparative Analysis (20 minutes)

• Group Task: Divide class into six groups; each receives one focus:

  1. Causes of the Crusades.
  2. Consequences for Medieval Britain and Europe.
  3. Roles of religious belief in the Crusades.
  4. Modern-day conflict in Africa (brief overview e.g., Sudan, Somalia).
  5. How Kingdom of Heaven shapes public understanding of the Crusades.
  6. Similarities and differences between medieval and modern conflicts.

• Guiding Questions:

  • Why did people go on crusade?
  • How did religion both unite and divide?
  • What lessons can we learn from the Crusades about modern conflicts?
  • How can films shape our view of history?

• After 15 minutes’ group discussion, each group presents a 1-minute summary.

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5. Plenary – Reflect and Connect (10 minutes)

• Class-wide interactive discussion, synthesising:
  • Historical facts vs. cultural representations.
  • How history helps us understand modern conflicts.
• Use mini whiteboards or note cards for students to write one new thing they learnt and one question they still have.
• Collect responses for follow-up or homework extension.

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Assessment

• Formative: Group presentations evaluated using a simple rubric for historical understanding, analysis, and communication skills.
• Summative: Exit card writing with a sentence explaining the significance of the Crusades and one way they connect to modern Africa. This checks comprehension and ability to link past and present.

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Resources

• Presentation slides and maps showing Crusader routes and Medieval geopolitical zones.
• Short clip (5 minutes max) from Kingdom of Heaven (teacher-prepared clips checked for age-appropriateness).
• Printed group worksheets with guiding questions.
• Mini whiteboards or cards for plenary reflections.
• Timeline wall chart (optional) of Medieval Britain & Crusades.

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Differentiation

• Provide sentence starters or writing frames for students who need support in group discussions.
• Extend learning for higher ability students with extra material about trade, cultural exchange during the Crusades, or primary source excerpts (e.g., extracts from chroniclers).
• Allow students to opt for drawing/sketching their reflections in the plenary if writing is challenging.

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Cross-Curricular Links

• Religious Education: Understanding religious motivations and beliefs during the Crusades.
• Media Studies: Analysing historical dramatisation in Kingdom of Heaven.
• Geography: Locating key places (Jerusalem, Egypt, Sudan) on maps and understanding current conflict locations.

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This lesson plan embraces the National Curriculum’s requirement for pupils to understand the impact of religion, key historical events and differing historical interpretations. It also connects these to real-world issues and cultural media, nurturing critical thinking and empathy. It is designed to engage a diverse Year 7 class with active, discussion-based learning that is both informative and thought-provoking.