MEDIEVAL SOCIETY
Was based on the FEUDAL SYSTEM
The KING was EXPECTED to be a STRONG LEADER / EXCELLENT WARRIOR + to CONSULT w/ HIS BARONS
THE
... [Show More] CHURCH also held A LOT OF POWER
THE FEUDAL SYSTEM
KING:
>>RULES the COUNTRY
>>GRANTS LAND to NOBLES
BARONS (NOBLES):
>>PROVIDE LOYALTY + SERVICE TO THE KING: MAINTAIN LAW + ORDER in their |AREAS RAISE an ARMY for the KING when NEEDED
>>GRANT LAND to the KNIGHTS
KNIGHTS:
>>PROVIDE PROTECTION + MILITARY SERVICE to the BARONS
>>GRANT LAND to the PEASANTS (aka Serfs/Villeins)
PEASANTS/SERFS/VILLEINS:
>>PROVIDE FOOD + SERVICES to the KNIGHTS
>>ARE NOT FREEMEN (HAVE NO RIGHTS)
1215: MAGNA CARTA - ABOUT
1199: KING JOHN succeeds his brother (Richard I) + has to live up to HIGH EXPECTATIONS
JOHN'S POOR KINGSHIP ANGERED THE BARONS + they FORM AN ARMY to FIGHT HIM > JOHN had NO ARMY of his own so he was FORCED TO NEGOTIATE
15 June 1215: the BARONS + KING JOHN meet at RUNNYMEDE where the BARONS w/ the help of STEPHEN LANGTON draw up a LIST of DEMANDS for the King known as the MAGNA CARTA
1215: MAGNA CARTA - LIST OF DEMANDS
Some demands of the Magna Carta:
STOP UNFAIR TAXATION
Let the CHURCH make its OWN APPOINMENTS (i.e. Bishops) + have "ITS LIBERTIES UNIMPAIRED"
Ensure a BARON'S HEIR INHERITED HIS LAND
PREVENT ARREST W/OUT TRIAL
PROTECT MERCHANTS
ELECT a GROUP/COUNCIL of 25 BARONS to MONITOR THE KING
1215: MAGNA CARTA - CONSEQUENCES
The group of 25 BARONS TRIED to IMPLEMENT the TERMS of the MC + KING JOHN REFUSED to ACCEPT THEIR DEMANDS
>>COVIL WAR BROKE OUT
The BARONS made an ALLIANCE w/ the KING of SCOTLAND + INVITED PRINCE LOUIS of FRANCE (heir to the French throne) to BE CROWNED KING of ENGLAND
>>May 1216: PRINCE LOUIS of FRANCE brought an ARMY to FIGHT JOHN > JOHN initially had success (+ sacked the town of Berwick) but LACKED the WEALTH/SUPPORT NEEDED to DEFEAT THE BARONS
October 1216: KING JOHN DIED > his SON (HENRY II) was ONLY 9 was the RIGHTFUL KING + had the SUPPORT of MOST PEOPLE
>>October 1217 Prince Louis of France accepts Henry as king + leaves England
1215: MAGNA CARTA - CAUSES
ECONOMY (TAXES):
>>JOHN OFTEN used (+ abused) the SCUTAGE TAX
>>Since 1199, John had CALLED IT 11 TIMES + EACH TIME: PRICE = INCREASED
>>1214: John CALLED IT AGAIN + people REFUSED TO PAY
>>The BARONS thought their MONEY = WASTED bc JOHN KEPT LOSING + they DIDN'T THINK he had the POLITICAL WILL/MILITARY MIGHT
RELIGION:
>>1207: the POPE appointed STEPHEN LANGTON as ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY + JOHN was DISPLEASED bc he wanted to APPOINT HIS OWN MINISTERS
>>In response the Pope EXCOMMUNICATED KING JOHN (banned all church services) + said it was NO LONGER A SIN to KILL THE KING
>>JOHN = INITIALLY HAPPY bc the CHURCH'S WEALTH WENT TO HIM
>>1213: JOHN/THE POPE REACH AN AGREEMENT to "restore the laws of Edward the Confessor"
WAR:
>>1204: JOHN LOST HIS LAND NORMANDY to the FRENCH KING + spent the rest of his reign trying to win it back
>>>This ANGERED many BARONS who ALSO LOST THEIR LAND
>>1214: JOHN LOSES TO FRANCE at the BATTLE of BOUVINES + the BARONS RESIST his NEXT CALL for SCUTAGE (early 1215)
SCUTAGE
A TAX that KNIGHTS + BARONS could PAY INSTEAD OF FIGHTING for the KING
1199 - 1214: RAISED 12 TIMES
1215: MAGNA CARTA - SIGNIFICANCE (SHORT TERM)
IT DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM
>>John ONLY AGREED to the terms to AVOID A CIVIL WAR which BROKE OUT ANYWAY when JOHN WENT BACK ON HIS WORD (it ended when John died in 1216)
It had LIMITED SCOPE > it was about the RELATIONSHIP between the KING/BARONS + ONLY APPLIED TO FREEMEN
>>The barons were NOT INTERESTED in the RIGHTS of ORDINARY PEOPLE + PEASANTS/VILLEINS = NOT FREE
HOWEVER it was REISSUED SEVERAL TIMES DURING THE 13 CENTURY (1200s):
>>November 1216
>>November 1217 (as well as the 'Charter of the Forest / 'small charter')
>>1225
>>1265 (w/ Simon de Montfort)
>>By Edward I in 1297 + 1300
1215: MAGNA CARTA - SIGNIFICANCE (LONG TERM)
AS MORE PEOPLE BECAME BECAME FREE it APPLIED TO MORE PEOPLE + its SIGNIFICANCE INCREASED
It ESTABLISHED some CORE PRINCIPLES
>>the KING had RESPONSIBILITIES TO THE PEOPLE + would be HELD TO ACCOUNT by the BARONS if he did not live up to them
It came to be seen as the 1ST STEP TOWARDS DEMOCRACY + a SYMBOL of PEOPLE POWER. > later protest movements used it as a REFERENCE POINT:
>>Stuart Times: SIR EDWARD COKE claimed that "MAGNA CARTA IS SUCH A FELLOW THAT HE WILL HAVE NO SOVEREIGN"
>>1762: ARTHUR BEARDMORE was arrested for libelling the king's mother + MADE SURE he was TEACHING HIS SON to READ THE MC
>>1994: the ZAPATISTA ARMY OF NATIONAL LIBERATION QUOTED THE MC to try to PROTECT INDIGENOUS PEOPLE in S. MEXICO from EXPLOITATION by BIG BUSINESSES
>>1998: V Symbolic although it was SUPERSEDED by the HUMAN RIGHTS ACT
>>2010: The PHILIPPINES GOVERNMENT talked of INTRODUCING a "MAGNA CARTA FOR WOMEN"
>>2015: ALEXANDER LOCK of the British Library argued that MC "STILL FLOURISHES as a POTENT + RECOGNISED SYMBOL of FREEDOM UNDER the ROLE of LAW"
1381: THE PEASANTS' REVOLT - ABOUT
A PROTEST against the POLL TAX led to a SERIOUS REBELLION:
30 May 1381: VILLAGERS in KENT + ESSEX REFUSED TO PAY their TAXES + THREATENED the TAX COLLECTOR > JOHN BAMPTON
2 June 1381: The CHIEF JUSTICE ATTEMPTED to COLLECT the MONEY + was ALSO THREATENED > the LOCALS BEHEADED HIS CLERKS
7 June 1381: The REBELS FREED JOHN BALL (a RADICAL PRIEST) from PRISON > JOHN BALL + WAT TYLER (LEADER of the REVOLT) MARCHED TOWARDS LONDON w/ an INCREASINGLY LARGE CROWD
7 June 1381: The CROWD ATTACKED SYMBOLS OF THE RICH > they BURNED RECORDS/ATTACKED CLERKS
13 June 1381: the CROWD REACHED LONDON + SUPPORTERS OPENED the CITY GATES > they CONTINUED to BURN DOWN SYMBOLS of WEALTH
>>They ATTACKED SAVOY PLACE (the house of JOHN of GAUNT + BURNED IT DOWN
14 June 1381: RICHARD II MET w/ WAT TYLER + the REBELS at SMITHFIELD + TYLER ASKED that ALL VILLEINS be MADE FREEMEN + the KING AGREED
>>Then the REBELS ENTERED THE TOWER of LONDON, FOUND + BEHEADED the TREASURER (ROBERT HALES) + the ARCHBISHOP of CANTERBURY (SUDBURY)
15 June 1381: The KING MET w/ WAT TYLER AGAIN at MILE END + this time the REBELS PRESENTED a LIST of DEMANDS
15 June 1381: There was CONFUSION + then the LORD MAYOR of LONDON STABBED WAT TYLER, + Tyler was KILLED by one of the KING'S BODYGUARDS
>>Once TYLER = DEAD + MOST of the REBELS had DISPERSED RICHARD II CHANGED HIS MIND
15 June 1381: ROYAL ARMIES MARCHED into ESSEX, KENT, SUFFOLK, NORFOLK, YORKSHIRE > AT LEAST 1,500 - 7,000 DIED
1381: THE PEASANTS' REVOLT - LIST OF DEMANDS
The ABOLITION of SERFDOM + UNFREE TENURE
An AMNESTY for REBELS
A RETURN to the 'LAW OF WINCHESTER'
CHANGES to the SYSTEM of LAW
CHURCH LAND to be GIVEN to the PEOPLE
1381: THE PEASANTS' REVOLT - CAUSES
1381: POLL TAXES PLACED A DISPROPORTIONATE + UNFAIR BURDEN ON THE POOR:
The KING NEEDED MONEY to FUND his WARS w/ FRANCE, so he RAISED TAXES:
>>1377: the 'BAD PARLIAMENT' (led by JOHN OF GAUNT) agreed to the 1ST POLL TAX at a FLAT RATE of 4D PER PERSON (a COUPLE of DAYS' WAGES for a LABOURER)
>>1377: The COMMONS (MERCHANTS/TRADERS/KNIGHTS/SMALLER LANDOWNERS) REFUSED to INCREASE the AMOUNT of TAX they would PAY + PETITIONED PARLIAMENT to COMPLAIN about the VILLEINS who INVOKED DOMESDAY BOOK to DISPUTE THEIR STATUS
>>1379: A 2ND POLL TAX was CALLED to PAY FOR ANOTHER INVASION of FRANCE > a SLIDING SCALE was ESTABLISHED: 'HUMBLE SORTS' paid 4D PER HEAD, whilst EARLS paid £4. There was WIDESPREAD OPPOSITION to this + AT LEAST 1/3 of TAXPAYERS 'DISAPPEARED' from the TAX LIST
>>1381: the 3RD POLL TAX LEVIED a FLAT RATE of 1SHILLING 4D PER PERSON (2 WEEKS WAGES for a LABOURER) to try and RAISE £160,000
EARLIER DISPUTES/ISSUES:
>>1315 - 1317: the HARVEST FELL by OVER 50%
>>1319/1320: NEARLY 1/2 the SHEEP in the COUNTRY DIED > OXEN = STRUCK by RINDERPEST > FOOD PRICES/RENTS INCREASED + so did the GAP between the RICH/POOR
IMPACT OF THE BLACK DEATH:
>>1348/1349: the BLACK DEATH (PLAGUE) arrived in DORSET + QUICKLY SPREAD > it WIPED OUT up to 50% of the POPULATION
>>This GAVE PEASANTS MORE CONTROL + the RICH were FORCED to LOWER RENTS/RAISE WAGES in order to GET WORKERS
>>>>the VILLAGERS of RUDHEATH in CHESIRE REFUSED to WORK FOR THEIR LORD UNLESS HE REDUCED RENTS by AT LEAST 33%
>>>>LANDLORDS RETALIATED by ENCLOSING LAND + KEEPING MORE SHEEP (which were v profitable) > MANY VILLEINS RAN AWAY to TOWNS/OTHER MANORS w/ BETTER WAGES
>>1351: PARLIAMENT passed the STATUTE OF LABOURERS
>>1363: PARLIAMENT passed the SUMPTUARY LAWS
>>The GAME LAWS were STRENGTHENED + PUNISHMENTS TOUGHENED
>>1376: OVER 100 VILLAGES REQUESTED COPIES of the DOMESDAY BOOK > to CHALLENGE the DUTIES IMPOSED on them BY THEIR LORD
WAR W/ FRANCE:
>>BRITAIN'S WARS w/ FRANCE WERE GOING BADLY > 1377: a FRENCH FLEET of OVE 120 SHIPS ATTACKED + BURNED DOWN the TOWN of RYE in SUSSEX + INVADED the ISLE of WIGHT, laying SIEGE to CARISBROOKE CASTLE
JOHN OF GAUNT
Was the DUKE of LANCASTER
Was EARL of DERBY/LINCOLN/LEICESTER
HELPED to RUN THE COUNTRY AFTER EDWARD III DIED + his SON, RICHARD II WSS ONLY 11 YEARS OLD
Was BLAMED for the POLITICAL/ECONOMIC FAILINGS that LED TO the PEASANTS' REVOLT
RINDERPEST
A v INFECTIOUS DISEASE that KILLS CATTLE + was UNTREATABLE in MEDIEVAL TIMES
1351: THE STATUTE OF LABOURERS
Said that EVERY PERSON OVER 60 HAD TO WORK + WAGES would be NO HIGHER than they WERE IN 1347
1363: THE SUMPTUARY LAWS
LAWS passed by the GOVERNMENT to REGULATE the CLOTHES people WORE/FOOD they ATE
THE GAME LAWS
LAWS passed by the GOVERNMENT to STOP ORDINARY PEOPLE POACHING DEER/RABBITS BELONGING to LANDOWNERS
It DIDN'T STOP POACHING:
>>1356: the DUKE of ARUNDEL LOST OVER 100 SWANS from his LAKE in ONE NIGHT
1381: THE PEASANTS' REVOLT - SIGNIFICANCE (SHORT TERM)
ALTHOUGH THE REBELLION FAILED (as RICHARD II WENT BACK on his WORD + LEADERS were HANGED), it WORRIED the KING/NOBLES:
>>it was the 1ST TIME that COMMONERS had REBELLED AGAINST ROYAL POWER
NOT ONLY PEASANTS REBELLED:
>> Many were LITERATE/ARTISANS/SKILLED WORKERS/LEADING VILLAGE MEN e.g. CONSTABLES + REEVES
>>but they were ALL COMMONERS + NONE WERE NOBLES [Show Less]