Using This Resource

This resource is aligned to the Australian Curriculum: History for Year 8 students. It adopts an inquiry learning approach that develops students’ skills in investigating the Medieval Europe and the early modern world sub-strand.  

This module predominantly covers a period spanning from the fall of the Roman Empire in western Europe in 476 CE through to approximately 1650. Within this timeframe, several movements occurred, including the Renaissance and the beginning of the Enlightenment. While this module will reference these movements, the terms “Middle Ages” and “Medieval” are used interchangeably to describe the era of European history being covered. This module does not use the term “Dark Ages” interchangeably. Further information about the term “Dark Ages” is addressed in theme two: “Bound to Service”.

The National Library of Australia’s collection of Medieval and Renaissance Treasures

The National Library of Australia’s collection of medieval and renaissance manuscripts comprises more than 6000 individual folios in 250 items and 12 bound volumes, dispersed across several collections. The bulk were acquired from two sources: ten volumes from the library of the 13th Baron Clifford of Chudleigh, and a large group of legal documents and fragments from manuscripts of theological, musico-liturgical and literary works from Sir Rex Nan Kivell, collected for his Calligraphy Collection.

This module draws on these wide-ranging collections. Selected works are used and examined to illustrate the experiences of people living in Europe during the Medieval period.

Through the generous support of donors, the National Library of Australia has been able to digitise a significant amount of this material. The digitised works can be browsed using the links below:

Curriculum Links - Medium Aevum - The Middle Age
A closed book. It is sitting on a black velvet cloth. The book is bound in brown leather. The front cover and spine are carved and moulded. The front cover is very scratched and worn.
Introductory Activities - Medium Aevum - The Middle Age
Inset from the Domesday Book. Most text is written in black ink. Some is in red. The words "Terra Regis" is written prominantly in red. The document is written in Latin and lists land owned in the county of Surrey
Themes - Medium Aevum - The Middle Age
A black and white photograph of a theatre performance. The actors are dressed as medieval knights and soldiers. They are looking upstage at two figures in a royal box.
Concluding Activities - Medium Aevum - The Middle Age
A composite image of a very old illuminated book. The left page is highly decorated and colourful. An image of a woman holding a baby is framed by plants. The right page is text written in black and red

The National Library of Australia acknowledges Australia’s First Nations Peoples – the First Australians – as the Traditional Owners and Custodians of this land and gives respect to the Elders – past and present – and through them to all Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Cultural Notification

Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are advised that this website contains a range of material which may be considered culturally sensitive including the records of people who have passed away.

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