Medieval Legacy in Modern Life · seed 1 · A4, ink-friendly. The answer key prints on its own page for grown-ups.

What the Middle Ages Gave Us

History · Medieval Times · ages 9-11
Name ______________________   Date ____________

  1. Which of these medieval universities is still teaching students today?

    • Atlantis Academy
    • Oxford
    • Camelot College

  2. Long ago, knights and barons forced King John to follow rules. What did that idea grow into over time?

    • Parliament, a group that helps make laws
    • The printing press
    • The Olympic Games

  3. English today has words from both Anglo-Saxon and Norman French.

    Circle one:   True   False

  4. A judge today looks at how earlier judges decided similar cases before making a ruling. What medieval idea is this?

    • Common law
    • Gothic architecture
    • The Magna Carta signing

  5. Cow, sheep, and swine are old Anglo-Saxon words for farm animals. Which word for the meat comes from Norman French instead?

    • Milk
    • Wool
    • Beef

  6. Why do so many fantasy books and video games use castles, knights, and dragons?

    • The Middle Ages happened very recently
    • The medieval world feels exciting and full of adventure
    • Castles are easy to build in real life

  7. A student says, 'English is a pure Anglo-Saxon language with no other influences.' What is wrong with that claim?

    • English also has thousands of Norman French words mixed in
    • English was invented after the printing press
    • English actually comes only from Latin

  8. A street called 'Church Lane' runs past a hill named 'Kingsbury,' and a shop is run by a family named 'Baker.' What do these names have in common?

    • They were all invented in the last fifty years
    • They are all borrowed from ancient Rome
    • They all came from the Middle Ages
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Answer key

For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.

What the Middle Ages Gave Us W1-mt_Ik-WC2ARPf-s1

  1. Oxford · Oxford was founded in the Middle Ages and has been teaching students for centuries.
  2. Parliament, a group that helps make laws · After Magna Carta, the idea that rulers should listen to others grew into Parliament, which still makes laws today.
  3. True · The Anglo-Saxons gave English its everyday words, and the Normans added many French words after 1066.
  4. Common law · Common law grew in the Middle Ages from judges' decisions building up shared rules, and courts still use it today.
  5. Beef · Peasants raised the animals and used Anglo-Saxon words, but Norman lords ate the meat and used French words like beef.
  6. The medieval world feels exciting and full of adventure · Writers and game makers use the medieval world because knights, castles, and quests feel exciting and magical.
  7. English also has thousands of Norman French words mixed in · After 1066, Norman French mixed with Anglo-Saxon English, giving us pairs like cow and beef, house and mansion.
  8. They all came from the Middle Ages · Many English place names and surnames, like Kingsbury and Baker, come from medieval times and describe old jobs or landmarks.
Worksheet · LightMySky