The Magna Carta established basic rights and legal protections for citizens of England that influenced laws worldwide. It limited the king's power and established that the monarch must obey the law. For example, it prohibited imprisonment without cause and entitled people to due process of law and habeas corpus. The document was signed in 1215 by King John after rebellious barons forced him to agree to its terms.

2. Background…The year is 1215 and King John of England has angered his own nobles with oppressive taxes and abusing his own power…

3. So then…A group of these angry nobles force King John to sign a document that would forever change English law…The Magna Carta!

5. Why so important? Gave basic rights to all English citizens. Made clear that the monarch (king/queen) must obey the law.

6. For example…Could no longer arrest or imprison someone without cause!

7. Now entitled to a “legal judgement of [your] peers”Today, we call this DUE PROCESS OF LAW and the right of HABEAS CORPUS

8. Also…The King agreed not to raise taxes without first consulting his Great Council!Later, American colonists would point to this clause when arguing “No taxation without representation!”

10. What were the Crusades?The Crusades were a series of wars in which Christians battled Muslims for control of lands in the Middle East. There were a total of 9 CrusadesBackground…The Seljuk Turks move into the Holy Land (Jerusalem and other places where Christians believed Jesus lived and preached).

11. The Seljuk Turks were Muslim…

12. The Seljuk Turks now controlled the Holy Land in the Middle East…

13. This now prevented Christians from traveling to the Holy Land!

14. How does the Christian Church Respond?Byzantine Emperor Alexius I asked Pope Urban II for help…

15. Pope Urban II agrees to send Christian knights to fight off the Muslim Seljuk Turks…

16. The 1st Crusade begins in 1096.Why go fight on a Crusade?Religious motivationMany knights hoped to gain land and moneyAdventurePope Urban II had his own motivations… ….he wanted to heal the split between the Byzantine and Roman churches (remember the Great Schism??)

17. So what happened?The Crusades, in all, lasted nearly 200 years(1095-1291)

18. Only the 1st Crusade came close to achieving its goals.

19. Christian knights captured Jerusalem…then massacred Muslim and Jewish residents of the city.

20. All other Crusades were won by Muslims…

21. Impact of the crusadesTrade expanded and increased-Returning crusaders brought back goods from the Byzantine Empire and Middle East…Did not end the split between the Roman and Byzantine Churches - The Crusades actually made the split even worse…Christians realized there were regions of the world they never knew existed - Curious Europeans set out to explore far-off places…

22. Crusades Video Cliphttp://www.history.com/videos/the-crusades-crescent-and-the-cross#the-crusades-crescent-and-the-cross

24. What was the Black Plague?The Black Death was an outbreak of the bubonic plague.It was caused by a bacteria carried by fleas residing on black rats on merchant ships.The Black Death is estimated to have killed 30% to 60% of Europe's population.

25. Normal Life Breaks Down…Some people turned to magic and witchcraft for curesMany people believed the plague to be God’s punishmentThese people beat themselves with whips to show they repented their sinsOther people left cities and hid in their homesSome Christians blamed Jews for the plagueThousands of Jews were slaughtered, as a result of the hysteria

26. The Economy Suffers…

28. Black Plague Video Clipshttp://www.watchknow.org/Video.aspx?VideoID=7155http://www.watchknow.org/Video.aspx?VideoID=7157http://www.watchknow.org/Video.aspx?VideoID=7162

30. The Spanish Inquisition was set up by King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain in 1478.Its purpose was to examine the sincerity or genuineness of people who converted to Christianity.What was the Spanish Inquisition?

31. Heresy = rejecting or not practicing the beliefs of the Christian Church.People were urged to turn themselves in or tell of others who might be guilty of heresy.For example, you could be turned in for:Questioning Christian beliefs/practicesEating meat on a day of abstinenceUrinating against a church wallAccusation

32. First, you would be arrested.Then, you would be imprisoned.And finally, you would be put on trial to determine if you were guilty of heresy!Then what…

33. And if found guilty…You would be burned alive…

34. Hundred Years’ War

35. What was the Hundred Years’ War?A series of conflicts between England and France between 1337 and 1453 (actually 116 yrs.)The two countries were battling for land and control of the English Channel

36. New Military TechnologyNew military technology during the Hundred Years’ War changed warfare…LongbowAccurate, could shoot 3 arrows with longbow in same time it took to shoot 3 arrows with crossbow CrossbowTremendous firing power, could pierce plate armor and chain mailCannonCould smash castle wallsEffects of New Military TechnologyChanged warfareKnights no longer effective because new weapons could easily pierce armorBattles could be fought from a farther distance nowStanding armies of serfs and peasants used now = serfs & peasants could operate longbow and crossbow w/o much trainingEnd of chivalryCombatants began to fight “dirty”

37. Crossbow & Longbow

39. Background… The year is 1429 and the French have consistently suffered defeat by the English for the past 92 years… The King of France, Charles VII, is desperate for help and alternatives to help his people beat the English…

40. Joan OF arcJoan was 17 years old when she approached the King of France.Joan told the King that Saint Michael, Saint Catherine, and Saint Margaret told her to drive out the English.Desperate, the King of France authorized Joan to lead an army against the English!

41. InspirationJoan motivated and inspired the French troops.In one year, Joan led the French to several victories!Joan’s victories “turned the tide” of the Hundred Years’ War in favor of the French!