What is Monarchic Power?

The power of the monarch was supported by the feudal system but he still had to work with Parliament to create new laws and raise taxes.

Feudal system

The feudal system was the foundation of monarchic power.
This is a hierarchical system where the King is at the top of society and is the most powerful as he owns all the land.
He gives out rewards such as land and titles to his noblemen or barons, in return for their loyalty.

Barons

Barons then gave some of this land to the knights in return for military service.
By the 14th century, barons and knights were both being called Lords.

Position of peasants

Peasants worked the land for their lords, and some peasants were villeins.
Villeins were forced into serfdoms, where they were nearly totally controlled by their lords and had to provide service in return for land and protection.

King's position in feudal system

As the King is at the top of the feudal system, the whole system supports the power of the monarchy.

King and parliament

Although the King was at the top of the feudal system, the King had to work with parliament to create new laws and raise taxes.

Composition of parliament

Parliament was made up of barons, knights, bishops and townsmen.
There were two knights from each shire and two townsmen from each town.

Parliament division

By the 13th century, there was a divide in parliament between the common people and the Lords (barons and bishops).
This is where we get out modern House of Lords and House of Commons from.

Power of parliament

If parliament (which represented everyone in society apart from peasants) supported the King, it showed that most of society did too.
However, due to the feudal system, it would be very difficult for a Lord to go against what the King wanted in parliament, as he could lose his land.

1The Medieval World: 450-1450 AD

1.1Anglo-Saxon England

1.1.1Vikings & Anglo-Saxons

1.1.2Reasons for Viking Invasions

1.1.3Alfred the Great

1.1.4England's Revival

1.1.5Anglo-Saxon Towns

1.2The Contest for the English Throne

1.2.1Edward the Confessor's Death

1.2.2The Contenders

1.2.3Battle of Stamford Bridge

1.2.4Battle of Hastings

1.2.5Battle of Hastings Timeline

1.2.6End of Topic Test - Edward's Death to Hastings

1.2.7The Feudal System

1.2.8Castles

1.2.9The Domesday Book

1.2.10End of Topic Test - Feudal System & Domesday Book

1.3Conquering the Holy Land, 10-96-1396 AD

1.3.1Origins of the Crusades

1.3.2Early Disputes Over the Holy Land

1.3.3The First Crusade

1.3.4Course of the Crusades

1.3.5Reasons for the Crusades

1.3.6Military Impact of the Crusades

1.3.7Scientific Impact of the Crusades

1.3.8Domestic Impact of the Crusades

1.3.9Christian Interpretation of the Crusades

1.3.10Muslim Interpretation of the Crusades

1.3.11End of Topic Test - The Crusades

1.3.12End of Topic Test - The Crusades 2

1.4King John

1.4.1King John

1.4.2King John's Power

1.4.3King John & the Church

1.4.4The Battle of Bouvines

1.4.5The Barons' Rebellion

1.4.6End of Topic Test - King John

1.4.7End of Topic Test - The Battle of Bouvines

1.4.8End of Topic Test - The BArons' Rebellion

1.5The Magna Carta & Parliament

1.5.1The Magna Carta

1.5.2Lasting Impact of the Magna Carta

1.5.3The Magna Carta & the Monarchy

1.5.4The Magna Carta & Democracy

1.5.5Contemporary Interpretations of King John

1.5.6Later Interpretations of King John

1.5.7Modern Interpretations of King John

1.5.8End of Topic Test - The Magna Carta

1.5.9End of Topic Test - Lasting Impact of Magna Carta

1.5.10End of Topic Test - Interpretations of King John

1.6The Black Death

1.6.1The Black Death

1.6.2The Impact of the Black Death

2Worldviews

2.1Time & History

2.1.1Measuring Time

2.2The Christian World

2.2.1Constantinople & the World in 1000

2.2.2Who was St Foy?

2.2.3The Significance of St Foy

2.3The Muslim World

2.3.1Location & Building of Baghdad

2.3.2House of Wisdom

2.3.3Development of Knowledge

2.3.4Madrasas

2.3.5Translating Knowledge & Key Scholars

2.3.6Science & Medicine

2.3.7What does Medieval Baghdad Reveal?

3The Empire of Mali

3.1Geography

3.1.1Geography of the Mali Empire

3.1.2Medieval West Africa

3.1.3Foundation of the Malian Empire

3.1.4Sunjata Keita

3.1.5Cities of the Mali Empire

3.2Key Figures

3.2.1Mansa Musa

3.3The Hajj to Mecca

3.3.1The Hajj to Mecca

3.3.2The Impact of the Hajj

3.3.3The Impact in Mali

4The Renaissance & Reformations, 1500-1598 AD

5The British Empire, 1583-1960 AD

5.1The British Empire

5.1.1The British Empire

5.2North America

5.2.1Early Settlement

5.2.2Jamestown, Virginia

5.2.3The Pilgrim Fathers

5.2.4Native Americans

5.2.5Independence

5.3The Caribbean

5.3.1The Slave Trade

5.3.2Impact of the Slave Trade

5.4India

5.4.1The East India Company

5.4.2Expansion of the East India Company

5.4.3Bengal

5.4.4Significance of India

5.5Australia

5.5.1A Penal Colony

5.5.2The Native Population

5.6Africa

5.6.1Cape Colony

5.6.2Egypt

5.6.3West Africa

5.7The Outcomes of the British Empire

5.7.1Impacts of the British Empire

5.7.2The Brutality of Empire

5.7.3The Fall of the British Empire

5.7.4End of Topic Test - The British Empire 1

5.7.5End of Topic Test - The British Empire 2

6The Peasants' Revolt

6.1Causes of the Peasants' Revolt

6.1.1Why Did the Peasants Revolt?

6.1.2Poll Tax

6.1.3Black Death

6.1.4John of Gaunt

6.1.5Other Reasons for the Peasants' Revolt

6.1.6The Trigger for the Peasants' Revolt

6.2Course of the Revolt

6.2.1Rebellion Starts in Essex & Kent

6.2.2March to London

6.2.3Events in London

6.2.4Crushing the Revolt

6.2.5End of the Revolt

6.3Consequences of the Peasants Revolt