Learning the Timeline of European History

I am thrilled to share with you our approach to learning the timeline of European history. As I mentioned earlier, my son is fascinated by world history, particularly the events in Europe and Asia (his home continent!). So, while he was exploring his interest, I took the opportunity to delve into the rich history of Europe. To accomplish this, I created these beautiful timeline cards that feature bold pictures (because kids are drawn to pictures) and include a brief description of each historical event. I conducted thorough research and handpicked the major events that were included in the cards. We were already reading the books of the Story of the World series, but most of the events in the cards were not mentioned in the book.

Our timeline covers four periods in history: ancient, medieval, early modern, and modern times.

• In each period, we will identify the fundamental needs of man:  Spiritual (love, religion, culture/community) and Material (shelter, transportation, food and clothing)
• Identify the locations in the map where the events occurred
• Historical figures that played a major role in each historical period
• Be able to arrange the timeline cards
• Compare the impact of each period

European History: Ancient Times (up to 500AD)

My Ancient Time Cards cover the period from the event that occurred in Mycenae to the end of the Byzantine Empire. During our conversation, we discussed how Greece played a significant role in the beginning of European history, with great conquerors like Alexander the Great, and the rise and fall of Rome. It was evident that religion played a crucial role in the development of European culture, alongside material things.

European History: Medieval Times (500AD to 1500)

In European history, significant events include the wars that occurred after the decline of Rome, the Black Death pandemic, the crusades, the Vikings' role in shaping modern-day Great Britain, the contributions of Constantine and Charlemagne, and the eventual separation of Orthodox and Roman Catholic Christians.

European History: Early Modern Times (1500-1900)

During the Early Modern Times, the Renaissance was a significant cultural movement. With the advent of the Industrial Revolution, people began to explore new places, and inventions such as steam trains and ships emerged. However, there were also civil wars, such as those in France and between England and Scotland. Mavi and I identified that the fundamental needs of man were at the root of these conflicts.

European History: Modern Times (1900 – present)

Teaching Modern Times to my child, Mavi, was quite challenging as he had a lot of questions, especially about the events of World War I and II, and the wars in the Baltic. However, some things are difficult to explain to a 7-year-old, so I ended up telling him stories that I knew and what I had read on the web. I still need to purchase Volume 4 of the Story of the World to supplement our lessons.

European History: Using the Cards

Our goal is to organize the cards based on the chronological order of the events. To achieve this, we have set up some strings on our shelf where the cards can be pinned. This technique allows us to visualize the timeline of historical events in a remarkable way!

Upon review, Mavi ensures he arranges time chronologically. He uses his knowledge of BC and AD to do so.

He has a great fondness for the cards and takes pleasure in going through their descriptions. To ensure that the cards are appealing and captivating for the students, I refrained from incorporating too many facts into the descriptions. As a result, I designed a separate set of cards that contain more detailed and elaborate descriptions.

He was proud of his work and asked to take a photo of him with his work LOL.

Here's how I explained the history of Europe to my 7-year-old son.

Get EUROPEAN TIMELINE HISTORY CARDS

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This post is part of the 12 Months of Montessori Learning which is hosted by Natural Beach Living and The Natural Homeschool.

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Our Montessori-inspired Timeline of Life by Every Star is Different

Exploring History Through the Great Lessons by Grace and Green Pastures