Professional Documents
Culture Documents
The Crusades
High Middle Ages
• Turning Point:
1215: Signing of
the Magna Carta
-“The Great
Charter”
• King John of
England forced to
sign
The Magna Carta = Checks and Balances on the King’s Power
Magna Carta 1215
• It recognized the rights of
nobles
• Kept King from being an
absolute ruler =
“Checks & Balances”
Step towards the people
taking back power
King John Signs the “Great
Charter”
Justinian Reign
Accomplishments
• Codification of Roman Law
• Became the legal system
of latter day Europe
• Resulted in the book:
“The Body of Civil Law”
English Parliament Emerges
• During the
reign of
Edward I
• An important
development of
representative
government
English Parliament Emerges
1. 2 knights
from every
county
2. 2 people
from every Later, the English Parliament
town becomes as powerful as the King.
4. Creation of 4
strong nation-
states:
Portugal, Spain,
England, &
France
Video: The Crusades