The Magna Carta--this is one of the original copies made in 1215--was a lot of small writing on a big piece of parchment, yet it proved to be a crucial political document in the evolution of England's political system.  Photo courtesy Wikipedia Commons.

• Read chapters 8 and 9 in the textbook.
• Read my notes on the Middle Ages and the Magna Carta and Middle Ages.
  
• Study the Questions to Consider and the Key Terms for the unit.

• Watch the video on The Medieval Mind: How To Build A Cathedral (Another great movie about the making of a medieval cathedral is David Macaulay's Cathedral. You might be able to find excerpts online somewhere.)
• Listen to some further information about this unit as a mp3 file.  You can also read the information as a txt file.

• King John and Magna Carta
• Magna Carta Conservation Treatment
• Magna Carta Timelines.tv History of Britain
• The importance of the Magna Carta
• Three Minute Philosophy: Thomas Aquinas
• Intro: Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologiae, IaIIa, q. 2
• The Animated Bayeux Tapestry (explanation of the tapestry)
• For extra credit please suggest to your instructor a relevant video for this unit of the course. Send the title of the video, the URL and a brief explanation of why you find the video interesting and applicable to the material that is being studied in this unit.

• For up to 25 points of extra credit, read the Magna Carta and submit the Optional Magna Carta paragraph.
• For up to 25 points of extra credit, in a short paper (one-page maximum) explain how much it cost to build a medieval cathedral and what were some of the usual ways that the church raised money to pay for construction.  Remember to cite sources.
• For up to 25 points of extra credit, clearly explain the genealogical basis of William's claim to the English throne in a one-page paper.
• For up to 10 points of extra credit, read Pope Urban's speech at Clermont--there are several versions--that started the Crusades.  Explain in a paragraph or so what you found most amazing about the Pope's remarks.
  
• For up to 10 points of extra credit, was the capture of Jerusalem by the crusaders on 15 July 1099 a good day or bad day for the Pope?  Explain in a long paragraph and remember to cite sources. You may wish to check Fulcher of Chartres, The Capture of Jerusalem.
• For up to 10 points of extra credit, read Usmah Ibn Munqidh (1095-1188), excerpts from his Autobiography (c.1175 CE) and write a long paragraph in which you comment upon the nature of Christian-Muslim interaction in the Near East during the Crusades.
• For extra credit, please suggest a relevant website for this unit of the course.  Send your instructor the title of the site, the URL and a brief explanation why you find the information interesting and applicable to the material being studied this unit.

• Upon successful completion of this unit, you will be able to (1) demonstrate knowledge of key events in medieval England and (2) analyze a historical primary source.