Guided Primary Source Analysis: The Kingdom of France

The Kingdom of France

Zoom into the center section of this map of the kingdom of France. Look carefully at the details shown in the map. Then read the text on the map. What can you tell about France from your analysis? Why do you think the creator chose to represent France as a ship? Now review the bibliographic record. When was this map created? Does the date and any other information from the bibliographic record help you to better answer the first two questions? How?

Now zoom into the full map. With your class or a group of students, use the text to create an illustrated timeline of events to accompany the map.

On November 13, 2015, terrorists attacked multiple locations in Paris, France, killing well over 100 people and injuring hundreds more. Review news articles about French government and citizen responses to the attacks; you can use the articles linked to below or find articles on your own. Then create a symbolic map, like the one above, of Paris, of France, or of a larger area that you think illustrates or represents the event and the French response to it.

If you know of another article to add to the list, please add the title and a URL in the comments section.

What other observations, reflections or questions does this source inspire? Let us know!