Knights and Castles Timeline for Kids
The Middle Ages lasted about 1,000 years. It was the time of kings and queens, knights and castles. This timeline shows some of the big events of that time in Europe.
Cut and Order Activity
Cut out the seven picture cards and glue them in order on the timeline.
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The timeline
476The Middle Ages Begin
The Roman Empire in the west comes to an end. Europe breaks into many small kingdoms.
Why it matters: This was the start of a new time, called the Middle Ages.
800Emperor Charlemagne
A king named Charlemagne rules much of western Europe. On Christmas Day, he is crowned emperor. He builds schools and wants people to learn to read.
Why it matters: He joined many small lands into one big one.
1066A New King of England
William, a duke from France, sails to England with an army. He wins a great battle and becomes king. He builds castles all over England.
Why it matters: Castles helped a king keep hold of his land.
About 1150Knights and Castles
Lords build strong stone castles with thick walls and moats. Knights in armor protect them. A boy starts to train as a page at age seven. He can become a knight at about 21.
Why it matters: Knights promised to be brave and to keep their word.
1215The Magna Carta
The lords of England make King John sign a paper called the Magna Carta. It says that even the king must follow the law.
Why it matters: It was an early step toward fair laws for everyone.
1347The Black Death
A terrible sickness called the Black Death spreads across Europe. About one out of every three people dies.
Why it matters: With fewer workers, life in Europe began to change.
About 1450The Printing Press
A man named Johannes Gutenberg builds a machine that can print books. Before this, every book was copied by hand.
Why it matters: Books became cheaper, and many more people learned to read.
Words to know
- knight: a soldier in armor who fought on horseback
- castle: a strong stone building where a lord lived
- moat: a deep ditch of water around a castle
- emperor: a ruler of an empire
Quiz
- What do we call the time of knights and castles?
A. The Middle Ages B. The Space Race C. The Ice Age - At what age did a boy start training as a page?
A. Fifteen B. Seven C. Thirty - What did the Magna Carta say?
A. Everyone must build a castle B. Books are not allowed C. Even the king must follow the law - What was the Black Death?
A. A terrible sickness B. A famous knight C. A castle - What did Gutenberg's machine do?
A. It built castles B. It printed books C. It made armor
Show answers
1. A (The Middle Ages) 2. B (Seven) 3. C (Even the king must follow the law) 4. A (A terrible sickness) 5. B (It printed books)
The pictures are illustrations made for this timeline. They show what these people and places may have looked like.