Horrible Middle Ages

The course offers an engaging and humorous introduction to European and Middle Eastern history from the fall of the Roman Empire to the beginning of the scientific revolution, using the Horrible Histories series as a primary resource. Taught over a semester through weekly 50-minute webinars, the course is designed for early middle school students and focuses on storytelling and primary source analysis while beginning to cultivate critical thinking skills. Key topics include the cultures and interactions of various European and Middle Eastern peoples, the rise and fall of empires, and the birth of modern science.

The course is supplemented by a reading list featuring Horrible Histories books, primarily focusing on the relevant time periods and events covered in the lessons. Students are encouraged to read along at their own pace, as assignments are based on section rather than page numbers. Recordings of the webinars are available for students unable to attend the live sessions.