DBQ Medieval Europe Common Core Document Based Question Activity

Get your students investigating how new ways of thinking inspired great developments in government and science during the Enlightenment. This Common Core resource packet has a mini-DBQ that is designed to be similar to the New York Regents exam and SBAC. The DBQ is divided into a primary source document analysis and a written response section. Students are expected to respond to questions, find evidence and provide commentary. It fits perfectly with the Common Core reading and writing standards 6-8.1-10.

Here’s what’s included with each DBQ:

1. A focus writing response question prominently on each page. The focus question for this DBQ is: In what ways did struggle characterize and shape Medieval Europe?

2.Historical background introduction followed by a DBQ student task list.

3. Eight varied primary source and secondary source documents with short answer questions. These can also be done separately as a stations work format for another option. Specifically students analyze populations charts, primary source documents about the plague, quotes and excerpts about leadership struggles, the impact of the 100 years war, the impact of the crusades and the peasants revolt.

5. Three writing response options so teachers can choose by class level or teaching preference. Each option includes instructional materials.

6. Student writing templates for each writing response option that both include stem sentences and do not.

7. Guided practice writing worksheets and a commentary stem sentence printable.

8. Rubrics.

This was a LABOR OF LOVE, that took an unimaginable amount of time. Have a great lesson!


Tony Pavlovich, Instructomania, DBQs World history, DBQs Medieval world history, the Feudalism in Europe DBQ,