Joan of Arc, The Hundred Years War (1340-1450) and Robin Hood (1190-1194)

{Previous post on England's history: The Norman Conquest and the Bayeaux Tapestry }

Previous post on France's History: Charlemagne Empire (770-840) and the Holy Roman Empire (960-1250)}

We read about Joan of Arc and the 100 year War. This lovely book has wonderful illustrations and the writing is both interesting and not dumbed down.
After the Normans had conquered England, the French and English kings fought many wars over who owned land in France. The Hundred Years war began when Edward II of England claimed that he whould be king of France. If you would like to see a family tree of the English Monarchs including Edward III and his son, Edward the Black Prince, click here. In 1429, the French made a comeback lead by a peasant girl called Joan of Arc.

We wrote about her and colored pictures and maps.

We learned about Robin Hood and other outlaws of the Middle Ages and watched the Disney movie,
which stays amazingly close to the story, if you can handle the anachronistic aspects and the characters being animated animals.

This, of course, leads to lots of Robin Hood play.

But, of course, nothing beats Howard Pyle's telling.
"You who so plod amid serious things that you feel it a shame to give yourself up for a few short moments to mirth and joyousness in the land of Fancy; you who think that life hath nought to do with innocent laughter that can harm no one; these pages are not for you."

More about reading Robin Hood to younger children at Living Charlotte Mason in California.
If you would like to make your own Robin Hood hat...

{The next post about France and England's history: The Wars of the Roses 1455-1485 }