IB DP History: Medieval Warm Period & Norse Exploration – Paper 1 (Climate & Innovation)

IB DP History Paper 1 lesson on the Medieval Warm Period and Norse exploration, exploring climate change, innovation, and source analysis skills.

This detailed, exam-focused PowerPoint is designed specifically for the new IB DP History curriculum, supporting Paper 1: Climate and Innovation. Students investigate how climate conditions may have enabled Norse expansion while developing advanced source evaluation and analytical writing skills.

Students examine:

The scientific evidence for the Medieval Warm Period (proxy data, tree rings, isotopes, alkenones)

The debate over whether the warming was regional or global

The causes of medieval climate change (solar irradiance, volcanic activity, ocean circulation)

The environmental conditions in Greenland and Vinland

The extent to which climate acted as an enabler rather than a direct cause

The modern misuse of medieval climate evidence in contemporary climate debates

Perfect for IB History teachers, revision lessons, or high-level climate history units.