Everything you need to understand or teach A Distant Mirror by Barbara Tuchman.
The castle of Coucy is a huge building on a hilltop in Picardy. There are five towers and a donjon—a central citadel—capable of housing a thousand people, even for a prolonged period such as during a siege. The castle is built in 1223 while there are many great buildings being constructed. Most take many years for completion but the castle at Coucy is finished in seven years. It is said there is a famous motto attached to the castle that reads: "Not king nor prince, Duke nor count am I; I am the lord of Coucy."
Into this life Enguerrand VII is born as ruler of Coucy. He is, by most accounts, an honorable man who is anxious to serve his country. It is that trait which puts him among several noblemen held as hostages in England after King Jean—then King of France—is captured by English forces. Jean is... View more of the A Distant Mirror: The Calamitous 14th Century Summary
A Distant Mirror: The Calamitous 14th Century Lesson Plans contain 113 pages of teaching material, including:
Barbara Tuchman