p&tp part one: challenging authority & feudalism Flashcards

chapter 1: constraints on kingship (MC stuff), chapter 2: the origins of parliament (Simon de Montfort stuff), chapter 3: medieval revolt & royal authority (Peasants' Revolt)

1
Q

chapter 1: what was the structure of the feudal system?

A
  • king at top of this system
  • king gave land to barons
  • barons gave king money & men to fight in wars
  • knights given land if they promised to fight when needed

under feudal system king had final say; kings supposed to listen to Great Council but rarely did

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

chapter 1: who was the king meant to listen to in the feudal system?

A

the Great Council (a group of trusted advisors), but they rarely did

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

chapter 1: what was a Medieval king meant to do?

A
  • defend the people by leading the army well
  • keep country peaceful
  • successfully deal w any rebellions
  • maintain good relations w Church & Pope
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

chapter 1: why was Christianity an important part of Medieval life?

A
  • believed kings appointed by God
  • Church v powerful
  • Church led by Pope in Rome but controlled in England by bishops & other members of the clergy
  • Church owned large amounts of land & set rules on everything from marriage to inheritance
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

chapter 1: why did King John fall out w the Pope?

A
  • Pope wanted Stephen Langton to be Archbishop of Canterbury, but John wanted someone who’d be less loyal to Pope; wanted someone who’d listen to him instead
  • Pope retaliated by cancelling all church services, incl. marriages & funerals
  • made barons (& everyone else) v unhappy as thought they’d go to hell
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

chapter 1: how did King John do in battle?

A
  • not very good
  • lost vast areas of territory in France that England once ruled over
  • this earned him nicknames ‘lackland’ & ‘softsword’
  • as result, John struggled to raise enough money to govern & defend country
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

chapter 1: why might King John be remembered as a good king?

A
  • religious tolerance
  • fair justice system; always made sure to be there at trials & that they were fair
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

chapter 1: why were the barons unhappy w King John?

A
  • worried about invasions from foreign countries bc of fall out w Pope; didn’t maintain good relations w Pope
  • had to pay scutage - high tax on those barons who didn’t fight for John when he asked
  • John repeatedly ignored demands of Great Council which meant barons felt their views not respected
  • John’s poor battle record meant he lost land in France
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

chapter 1: what did the barons do as a result of their dissatisfaction?

A
  • fed up w John
  • raised army against him & occupied London
  • John realised he’d need to listen to them, as he needed their support to stay in power, so met w them on 15th June 1215 to negotiate way in which country should be governed
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

chapter 1: where did the barons & King John meet to sign the Magna Carta?

A

Runnymede, 1215

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

chapter 1: what were some key terms of the Magna Carta?

A

we grant to all freemen the liberties written below:
- a baron’s heir shall inherit his lands on payment of £100 to the king
- no scutage shall be imposed on barons except w the common counsel of the realm
- no freeman shall be arrested or imprisoned w/o proper trial & according to law of the land
- English Church shall be free to make its own appointments
- all merchants shall have safety, in staying & travelling in England, for buying & selling goods, free from evil tolls
- group of 25 barons will be created to monitor king & ensure he commits to MC (Clause 61)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

chapter 1: what are the stages/events of the First Barons’ War?

A
  • John quickly went back on word, saying he’d been forced to sign MC
  • Pope agreed, stating MC invalid
  • war started in England between barons & king; barons had support of French who sent troops & money to help barons
  • Siege of Rochester late 1215 gave John upper hand after he & his men able to storm Rochester Castle
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

chapter 1: what is the timeline of events after the Magna Carta was signed? (not incl. first barons’ war)

A
  • may 1216: barons promised French Prince Louis the English throne, he arrived on the coast; he takes control of England, & has support of Scottish King
  • 2 june 1216: Prince Louis announced (but not crowned)) King of England
  • Oct 1216: King John dies
  • 28 Oct 1216: John’s young son Henry becomes King Henry III; MC reissued & Henry III agrees to conditions
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

chapter 1: what were the short term impacts of the Magna Carta?

A
  • King John went back on word, meaning it had no immediate impact on society
  • peasants & villeins still not free; nothing changed for ordinary people at time
  • only politically powerful e.g. barons, the Church & merchants benefited from it
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

chapter 1: what were the long term impacts of the Magna Carta?

A
  • MC introduced idea that there were some laws & rules the king had to follow
  • eventually more people gained their freedom
  • kings after John signed similar versions of MC
  • viewed as first step in Britain becoming a democracy
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

chapter 1: summary of chapter 1/constraints on kingship/Magna Carta stuff?

A
  • Christian religion v important in Medieval life; Medieval kings believed they were appointed by God
  • King John seen as bad king when lost wars, made barons pay high taxes (scutage), & fell out w Pope
  • John panicked when barons went against him - needed their support both in running country, and in disagreements w Pope
  • at Runnymede June 1215 barons made him sign MC
  • John quickly went back on his word, supported by Pope
  • barons gained support of French & challenged John again by declaring that French Prince Louis was king
  • King John died Oct 1216 & young son became King Henry III; he agreed to conditions of MC