john, 1199-1216

In 1215, England was beset by foreign crises and cornered by a growing domestic rebellion. King John reluctantly agreed to fix his seal to a document that would change the course of history. At the time of its creation, the Magna Carta was just a peace treaty drafted by a group of rebel barons who were tired of the king's high taxes, arbitrary justice, and endless foreign wars. The fragile peace it established would last only two months, but its principles have reverberated over the centuries. This narrative follows the story of the Magna Carta's creation, its failure, and the war that subsequently engulfed England, and charts the high points in its unexpected afterlife: it protected the church, banned unlawful imprisonment, and set limits to the exercise of royal power. It established the principle that taxation must be tied to representation and paved the way for the creation of parliament. Our Declaration of Independence was formulated after the Magna Carta.

Studies the history, importance, and preservation of the Magna Carta. Features color illustrations and photographs, a timeline, a glossary, and further resources.

Provides new editions of two classic histories with an unabridged script, a synopsis of the action, background notes, an explanation of unfamiliar words, and classroom-tested activities for groups and individuals.

Presents an annotated edition of Shakespeare's historical drama about the struggles of England's King John, and includes an introduction to the play, an essay on the theatrical world of Shakespeare, and a note on the text used.

In twelfth-century England, Matty grows up to be a master falconer, able to communicate with the devoted birds who later help her and Fynn, also known as Robin Hood, to foil Prince John's plot to steal the crown.

Chronicles the events that led to the signing of the Magna Carta and describes everyday life in 1215 England.

Thirteen-year-old Arthur, now serving as a squire to Lord Stephen of Holt Castle, turns his attention to fulfilling some of his other dreams, such as meeting his birth mother, marrying the beautiful Winnie, and most of all, becoming a Crusader.

Arthur de Caldicot, on his way to becoming a man, witnesses the horrors of the Fourth Crusade in Venice and Zara, as well as the downfall of King Arthur's court, in his seeing stone.

Arthur, a thirteen-year-old boy in late twelfth-century England, tells how Merlin gave him a magical seeing stone which shows him images of the legendary King Arthur, the events of whose life seem to have many parallels to his own.