Topic: Mieszko I–ruler of Pagans, Duke of Christians

Target group

5th‑grade students of elementary school

Core curriculum

V. Poland in the early Piast period. Pupil:

1. situates the state of the first Piasts in time and space and presents its genesis;

2. explains the circumstances of the Piast's baptism and the cultural, social and political consequences of the Christianization of Poland; (...)

3. describes the Polish society of the first Piasts.

General aim of education

Students learn about the beginnings of the Polish state

Key competences

• communication in foreign languages;

• digital competence;

• learning to learn.

Criteria for success
The student will learn:

• who Mieszko I was and what merits he had;

• how the Piast dynasty managed to create a strong state;

• what were Mieszko I external policy achievements;

• why baptism was so important for a young state.

Methods/techniques

• activating

  • discussion.

• expository

  • talk.

• exposing

  • film.

• programmed

  • with computer;

  • with e‑textbook.

• practical

  • exercices concerned.

Forms of work

• individual activity;

• activity in pairs;

• activity in groups;

• collective activity.

Teaching aids

• e‑textbook;

• notebook and crayons/felt‑tip pens;

• interactive whiteboard, tablets/computers.

Lesson plan overview

Before classes

1. Students refer to the abstract content. They shall be able to summarize it in they own words and solve the exercices.

Introduction

1. The teacher states the subject of the lesson, explains the aim of the lesson and together with students determines the success criteria to be achieved.

2. The teacher asks the students, starting the brainstorming, about the beginnings of the Polish state. Then he takes note of the most important associations that students have.

Realization

1. The teacher introduces pupils to the topic of the lesson, noting that before discussing the state of Mieszko I, it should be explained what the situation on the Polish territory before the tenth century looked like. What we know about these territories and their history.

2. Students read a fragment of Gallus Anonymus chronicle describing Mieszko I and do Exercise 1. Then the teacher tells about Mieszko I, mentioning, among others, on recognizing the authority of Emperor Otto I, an alliance with Przemyślid and a marriage with Dobrawa, baptism and giving the country under the protection of Saint Peter. Students get acquainted with two source texts (Exercise 2 and Exercise 3) and on their basis list sentences given in exercises according to the chronology of events. The teacher makes sure that the tasks were carried out correctly and gives feedback. First and foremost, he explains the role and significance of baptism and Poland's entry into the Christian world.

3. Then the teacher presents the conquests and policy of expansion carried out by the ruler. Students do Exercise 4. The teacher makes sure that the task has been correctly completed and gives feedback.

4. While working on exercises and instructions, the teacher uses a methodological help or a set of cards in three colors: green, yellow and red. Thanks to the cards, the students signal to the teacher if they have difficulties with carrying out orders (green - I'm doing great, yellow - I have doubts, red - please help).

Summary

1. Summing up the lesson, students do Task 1, remembering the most important events in the life of Mieszko I, and Exercise 5 (complete the text). The teacher makes sure that the tasks have been correctly completed and gives feedback. Then the teacher asks a question, starting the discussion on how we can assess Mieszko I and his achievements. Asking questions, he remembers that they are to be formulated as the key questions.

2. The teacher distributes evaluation surveys to the students, in which they evaluate their own work during the lesson, their activity as well as their colleagues. They will also assess what content was interesting to them, what they liked and what should be changed or improved.

Homework

1. The teacher sets homework (it is not an obligatory part of the scenario): Think about the consequences of baptism for the residents of Mieszko I's state? Do you think that such a decision was welcomed by his subordinates?.

The following terms and recordings will be used during this lesson

Terms

Texts and recordings

Mieszko I–ruler of Pagans, Duke of Christians

Mieszko I is considered to be the first historical ruler of Poland. Unfortunately, we do not have much information about his predecessors and their country. It is widely accepted that the country of the Polans – the tribe from which Mieszko was, was one of many countries that functioned in this area in those times. It is hard to say whether the people of those countries cooperated with each other and if they had common goals. The only thing that is accepted as fact is that before 10th century on the territory of Poland there was no political community which would have a larger territory.

This situation changed in the 10th century, when the country lead by the Piasts began to grow stronger and stronger. The Polans conquered Polish lands, taking over the entire Wielkopolska area around the middle of the 10th century. The success was achieved thanks to incredible leadership skills and the ruler having the support of a team of warriors. This can be attested by a relation of a Jewish merchant, Ibrahim ibn Yaqub, from the 2nd half of the 10th century. He had first news about a developing country lead by Duke Mieszko, who ruled over extensive lands.

A turning point in the history of the land of Mieszko I was the alliance he formed in 965 with Boleslaus I, Duke of Bohemia of the Přemyslid dynasty. As a result, he married the daughter of the duke, Doubravka, who most probably influenced him to accept baptism in 966. The reason for this decision can be noticed in the interior policy – higher authority and position of the Duke, as well as foreign affairs – it made the ruler of Polan tribe an equal partner among Christian rulers. The baptism of the ruler, and also of the country ruled by Mieszko, entered the world of Latin culture. Thanks to the numerous endeavours of the ruler, it was possible to have relations with the Christian world and to create a missionary bishopric in Poznań, subjected directly to the Pope. The head of that bishopric was bishop Jordan. It was a great political success, as it allowed to retain independence from the German church hierarchy that laid claim to the authority over the Christianized Slavs and it was probably caused by the fact that the country was given to the Holy See as a St. Peter’s gift. The circumstances of that event are unclear.

Accepting Christianity and alliances with Christian rulers allowed for a stronger expansion. Thanks to the support of the Emperor, he won against the Veleti who lived in the Pomerania region, then he won against the Margrave Odo I, Margrave of the Saxon Ostmark in Battle of Cedynia in 972. During that time, he had connections with German aristocracy, which resulted in his marriage to Oda of Haldensleben, a relative of the Emperor. He had numerous victories in the south of the country, after breaking the alliance with the dukes of Bohemia, he took control of Wrocław and took Silesia away from them. The ruler died in 992 and was probably buried in the Cathedral of Poznań.