Reformation France · 1562-1598

The French Wars of Religion

For 36 years Catholics and Protestant Huguenots fight over France. Students follow the wars from Paris to La Rochelle and Nantes and judge the Edict of Nantes, which allowed two faiths in one kingdom.

Teach it live New Open on the map
Length
50 minutes
Ages
13–16
On the map
3 steps, AD 1562 to AD 1598
Live lesson
7 rounds, 3 on the map
Worksheet
Two A4 pages, with Classroom
You need
A projector; phones for live

Live lesson · new in Classroom

Teach it live. The class answers on their phones.

Put the board on the projector. Students join with a six-digit code, no account needed, and tap the map: where was the frontier, where did the grain come from. Their pins drop in together when you reveal, and the closest student takes the round.

€19 per month: every lesson live, every worksheet, cancel anytime. Rome at its height runs live for free.

A live lesson on the projector: the class's pins on the map around Alexandria, the closest students listed beside it A student's phone: the question and a map to tap
7 rounds
3 places to find on the map, quiz questions, a class vote and a one-line answer.
About 15 minutes
Run it as the map step, or to open the discussion. You move on with the space bar.
A report
Every answer, per student and per round, to read back or print after the lesson.
1

Introduction

5 min

Read aloud

For 36 years Catholics and Protestant Huguenots fight over France. Students follow the wars from Paris to La Rochelle and Nantes and judge the Edict of Nantes, which allowed two faiths in one kingdom.

By the end of the lesson, students can

  • Explain why Catholics and Huguenots went to war in France.
  • Locate Paris, La Rochelle and Nantes and explain their role.
  • Explain what the Edict of Nantes allowed and why it was a compromise.
2

Explore the map

15 min

Project the map, or let students follow on their own devices. Each step opens the map at the right year and place.

a

AD 1562

One kingdom, two faiths

Open the map in 1562 and zoom in on France. Find Paris, the Catholic capital, and La Rochelle on the Atlantic coast, a Huguenot stronghold. Why would a port be useful to a religious minority?

Open this view on the map
b

AD 1589

A king from the mountains

Zoom in on the Pyrenees between France and Spain. Henry of Navarre came from the small kingdom of Navarre here. He was a Huguenot, and in 1589 became heir to the French throne. How would Catholic Paris react?

Open this view on the map
c

AD 1598

Peace at Nantes

Jump to 1598 and find Nantes near the mouth of the Loire, where Henry IV signed his edict. Compare France's borders with 1562: did 36 years of war change them?

Open this view on the map
3

Class discussion

15 min

Pick two or three. They run from what happened to why it mattered.

  1. Why did religion and politics become so tangled in France, with great noble families leading each side?
  2. In 1572 a royal wedding meant to bring peace was followed by the St Bartholomew's Day Massacre in Paris. How could a celebration turn into killing?
  3. Henry IV changed his religion to be accepted as king. Was that wise, or a betrayal?
  4. The Edict of Nantes let Huguenots keep fortified towns. Why would they want fortresses?
  5. In 1685 Louis XIV cancelled the Edict. What does that tell us about tolerance that depends on one ruler?
4

Game round

10 min

Play a round of Rule History as Akbar, who in the same decades invited Muslims, Hindus, Christians and others to debate at his court. Discuss: compare Akbar's approach to religion with Henry IV's Edict of Nantes. Which would last longer, and why?

Open Rule History
5

Worksheet

5 min

This worksheet comes with Classroom

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