Just a little bit of history...Stephen the last Norman king was succeeded by the first Plantagenet king Henry II who made some reforms to improve military service and to reduce barons’ power.
To restore order and the administration of justice he sent travelling judges to hold court and the law they administered was named “Common Law”, because it was used everywhere.
In other part of Europe was used Civil Roman Law and the Canon Law of the Church.
To reduce church’s power Henry II decided to make his Chancellor and friend Thomas Becket Archbishop.
But Becket, the Archbishop of Canterbury, became an opponent of the king, so he was murdered (1170) and became a saint and pilgrims from all over Europe come in England to visit his shire in Canterbury Cathedral.
Henry was succeeded by his elder son Richard called the “Lion Hearted”, who was replaced (as he was at the third Crusade) by his brother John who was called “Lackland” because he lost Normandy and other possessions. To defend these possession he needed money to finance wars so he levied higher taxes.
To restore order and the administration of justice he sent travelling judges to hold court and the law they administered was named “Common Law”, because it was used everywhere.
In other part of Europe was used Civil Roman Law and the Canon Law of the Church.
To reduce church’s power Henry II decided to make his Chancellor and friend Thomas Becket Archbishop.
But Becket, the Archbishop of Canterbury, became an opponent of the king, so he was murdered (1170) and became a saint and pilgrims from all over Europe come in England to visit his shire in Canterbury Cathedral.
Henry was succeeded by his elder son Richard called the “Lion Hearted”, who was replaced (as he was at the third Crusade) by his brother John who was called “Lackland” because he lost Normandy and other possessions. To defend these possession he needed money to finance wars so he levied higher taxes.
Than the barons forced him to sign a document, known as Magna Charta which marks the first step towards the constitutional monarchy.
After John’s death became king his son Henry III.
Edward the first (who became king in 1272) made Model parliament that was the meeting of his Council and this would be the base for the future two Houses of Parliament.
In 1348 during Edward III in England there was the “Black Death” caused by fleas living on rats which infested the ship trading with Europe, and it was also caused by people who in this period weren’t very clean and healthy.
This plague killed a third of England’s population and wasn’t good for the economy.
In the last year of Edward reign started the rise of a religious movement of reform called Lollardy, whose leader was John Wycliffe, that criticised the corruption in monastic orders.
In the 14th century the artisans and the tradesmen in the town organised themselves in groups called guilds.
After John’s death became king his son Henry III.
Edward the first (who became king in 1272) made Model parliament that was the meeting of his Council and this would be the base for the future two Houses of Parliament.
In 1348 during Edward III in England there was the “Black Death” caused by fleas living on rats which infested the ship trading with Europe, and it was also caused by people who in this period weren’t very clean and healthy.
This plague killed a third of England’s population and wasn’t good for the economy.
In the last year of Edward reign started the rise of a religious movement of reform called Lollardy, whose leader was John Wycliffe, that criticised the corruption in monastic orders.
In the 14th century the artisans and the tradesmen in the town organised themselves in groups called guilds.
(Mary)
This is a fantastic reassume. I like it so much!!!Thanks for published it.
ReplyDeleteLia