What was the Magna Carta?
The Magna Carta was a document signed by King John in 1215, guaranteeing feudal rights to the barons. This was the first time that the monarch’s authority had been successfully challenged and John soon tried to go back on his word. However, after his death the barons renegotiated the charter with his son and it became part of English law. The Magna Carta stated that the king and the barons must comply with the laws of the land.
How did printing change Europe?
In the 1400s a new system of printing was invented. The newly printed books were cheap and, although first published in Latin, they were soon produced in the languages spoken by ordinary people. By 1500 there were 1,700 printing presses in Europe, producing thousands of different books. As a result education became accessible to more people, helping to break down the old social structures of Europe.
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