Freedom and protest: Magna Carta and its legacies
This course was previously called: The Magna Carta and its Legacy. This course aims to lead students into a greater appreciation for and an understanding of Magna Carta and its significance around the globe, as we approach the 800th anniversary of its sealing. The course examines why Magna Carta was radical in its day, why it has been a source of numerous debates, and why this anniversary is being celebrated in the present.
About the Course
In 1215, King John sealed Magna
Carta by the Thames at Runnymede in Surrey, a charter between the monarch and his
Barons placing limits on his power over freeborn men in the kingdom. Magna Carta
enshrined the principle that all people should be bound by the rule of law,
including the monarch, and that the processes of justice must be applied to
all. Many political thinkers have celebrated Magna Carta as the first example
of a bill of rights, an ancient constitution.
This introductory course, based on a new level 5 course Commemorating the Past that will be offered for the first time in 2015-16, examines the historical roles that Magna Carta has played, and the importance of Magna Carta today. Members of the History Department at Royal Holloway, a college of the University of London, will deliver the course. In addition to the lectures with an explicit historical focus, the lectures in week fours and five will explore the continuing international significance of Magna Carta, and of Runnymede, through video segments produced by lecturers in the Geography Department and the Politics and International Relations Department.
Course Syllabus
Week 1
Magna Carta, Parliament and the Law 1215-1300 (Lecturers: Nigel Saul and Jonathan Phillips) Learning outcome: to set the scene for studying Magna Carta; to show how Magna Carta became embedded in practice
in England Week 2 The reinvention of Magna Carta, 1508-1642 (Lecturer: Justin Champion) Learning outcomes: to understand how the significance of the Magna Carta was reinvented in the
context of the conflict between monarchy and parliament; to explore the use
of Magna Carta in political cartoons Week 3 The Whig Ancient Constitution, 1642-1776 (Lecturer: Justin Champion) Learning Outcomes: to understand, and examine, how the ‘idea’ rather than
the ‘event’ of Magna Carta became used by conservative and radical political
groups; to understand the export of the tradition of Magna Carta into the
American colonies Week 4 Magna Carta and the wider world: constitution making (Lecturer: Emm
Johnstone with others) Learning outcomes include: to
understand the significance of Magna Carta and its ideals in the establishment
of constitutions and bills of human rights over the past two centuries Week 5 Public history: memorialisation and memorials (Lecturer: Graham Smith
and others) Learning outcomes include
examining the purposes of commemoration in modern society. Week 6 Magna Carta: A History of an Argument c.1800-2015 (Lecturer: Graham
Smith) Learning outcomes include: to
appreciate the complex and contested uses of Magna Carta in contemporary
debates about human rights and the rule of law.
Recommended Background
No background is required; all are welcome!
Suggested Readings
British Library website devoted to Magna Carta: http://www.bl.uk/treasures/magnacarta/
The Forum at the Online Library of Liberty for a selection of essays and images exploring and contextualising Magna Carta and its linkages with subsequent attempts to codify liberty, drawn from the last 100 years demonstrating changing readings of the importance of Magna Carta
Videos and images from the 750th anniversary of the sealing of Magna Carta, including http://www.britishpathe.com/video/750-years-of-liberty/query/Magna
Articles free to access exploring Magna Carta’s uses in British and American history and the history of law, including http://www.historytoday.com/ralph-v-turner/meaning-magna-carta-1215 and the texts of lectures given at Royal Holloway as part of a ten year series of Magna Carta themed public talks
- http://www.rhul.ac.uk/aboutus/documents/pdf/magnacarta/2007-lecture.pdf by Professor Shirley Williams
- http://www.rhul.ac.uk/aboutus/documents/pdf/magnacarta/magnacarta8711.pdf by Lady Mary Arden
Course Format
The class will consist of lecture videos of between 5
and 12 minutes in length. Each week (with the exception of week 6) there will be a quiz which relates to the
videos for that week and possibly some other specified supporting material. There will also be suggested extra reading and viewing to
support your learning, and a peer assessed assignment in the final week.
FAQ
'What resources will I need for this class?
For this course, all you need is an Internet connection, the time to read, write, reflect and discuss, and willingness to contribute to the mutual learning experience.
Can I gain credit for this course?
This is intended to be an introductory outreach course, taken on an extramural basis. No credits will be awarded.
What can I earn for completing this course?
You can earn a Verified Certificate by verifying your work with a risk-free, no obligation Signature Track trial. Payment for Signature Track can be made anytime until the week before the course ends — so you’ll be more certain that you’ll earn your Verified Certificate. If you choose not to verify your work, you can still participate in the complete course. While your final score will be noted on your course records page, this course will not offer a Statement of Accomplishment.
Where can I find more information regarding the University of London and its programmes?
The University of London is a federal University which includes 18 world leading Colleges, who offer many levels of study including foundation, undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, as well as diplomas and research degrees.
It is, however, not essential to be in London to study for a University of London degree.
The University of London International Programmes was founded in 1858 and is the world's oldest provider of flexible learning. Its programmes have enriched the lives of thousands of students by offering the opportunity to study for a University of London degree from anywhere in the world.
These programmes result from a collaboration between the University of London International Academy and 12 Colleges of the University of London. Today there are 54,000 students in 190 countries studying through the University of London International Programmes, for more than 100 qualifications at degree, higher education diploma and certificate level. For more information, please visit:www.londoninternational.ac.uk
The 'Freedom and protest: Magna Carta and its Legacies' course has been developed in collaboration with Royal Holloway, University of London, one of the Colleges of the University. For more information on Royal Holloway please visit: https://www.royalholloway.ac.uk/home.aspx
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