This is a list of great resources for studying the Christian Church from 950-1350 AD. This list is designed to coordinate with Cobblestone Path Church History Research Journal ~ The Medieval Age, but can also be used by students just to study the history of the Church. For more great resources chronologically throughout the history of the Church, check here.
Cobblestone Path Church History Research Journals are designed to help middle school and high school students develop a solid understanding of Christian history one “age” at a time. They will also help young adults develop and strengthen skills in pre-writing (notetaking and organization), handwriting, reading comprehension, and research. While much of the research for the journals will be done using the internet, you’ll want to have a good Christian history overview text (or two) and you may wish to supply your students with some great biographies or literature pertaining to the time period.
Following is a list of recommended resources and suggested supplements. Because I know many of you have younger children as well, I will also recommend some great books from The Medieval Age as well. You can include them in your Church history studies with a few well-chosen read-alouds. No notebooking or research required!
Cobblestone Path ~ The Medieval Age
Each journal covers a period of time (or “age”) in Church History. There’s no clear agreement on the divisions of Church ages, so I have divided these ages thematically and have tried to name them appropriately. Cobblestone Path is designed to look at the major aspects of each age from a global view. Students will find people and movements that stood in opposition to the Christian Church, as well as those who claimed the name of Christ, yet espoused a different gospel. This research journal series is compiled from a Protestant viewpoint. There is not a complete list of the bishops and popes of Rome or of world leaders, however, at every point where the individual popes or world leaders are important to understanding Church history, they are included. Below are the titles and periods covered by each journal.
Cobblestone Path ~ The Medieval Age
Recommended Church History Overviews
For middle and high school students undertaking the study of Church history, I recommend choosing a good overview text (or two), and then allowing students to use the internet to do additional research. Following are three good choices. You’ll want to read reviews and make a decision based on your needs.
- Church History in Plain Language: Fourth Edition
- The Story of Christianity, Vol. 1: The Early Church to the Dawn of the Reformation and The Story of Christianity, Vol. 2: The Reformation to the Present Day
- Turning Points: Decisive Moments in the History of Christianity
Supplemental Reading For Middle School
- History Lives Box Set: Chronicles of the Church (Specifically, the second volume: Monks and Mystics: Chronicles of the Medieval Church (History Lives series))
- The 100 Most Important Events in Christian History
- Morning Star of the Reformation
Supplemental Reading For High School
- Josephus: The Essential Works
- Eusebius: The Church History
- Foxe’s Book of Martyrs (Pure Gold Classics)
Medieval Age Books for Preschool to Second Grade
Medieval Age Books for Third to Fifth Grade
- Anselm of Canterbury (Christian Biographies for Young Readers)
- The 100 Most Important Events in Christian History
- Trial and Triumph: Stories from Church History
