GCSE History: Power and the People c1170–c1700

This material covers the first half of the GCSE History thematic study of power and the people – for example parts 1 and 2 of AQA's 'Britain: Power and the people: c1170 to the present day' (challenging authority and feudalism; challenging royal authority). The period after c1700 is covered in a companion material in this category.

You revise why the barons rebelled against King John – the loss of Normandy in 1204, heavy taxes such as scutage, and his quarrel with the Pope – and the main terms of Magna Carta, sealed at Runnymede in June 1215, including the protection of free men from imprisonment without lawful judgement and the need for common counsel before scutage was raised. You then look at why the charter survived through its reissues in 1216, 1217 and 1225, and at Simon de Montfort's challenge to Henry III: the Provisions of Oxford (1258), the Battle of Lewes (1264), the Parliament of 1265 with knights and burgesses, and his death at Evesham.

The Peasants' Revolt of 1381 is studied through its long- and short-term causes (the Black Death and the Statute of Labourers, the poll taxes, the preaching of John Ball), its events in London, including the meetings with Richard II at Mile End and Smithfield and the death of Wat Tyler, and its consequences. You then look at the Pilgrimage of Grace of 1536, its religious and economic causes, the role of Robert Aske and Henry VIII's response, and at the conflict between Charles I and Parliament – Ship Money, religion and the Personal Rule – leading to the Civil War, the execution of the king on 30 January 1649, the radical ideas of the Levellers and the Restoration of 1660.

Throughout, the material highlights the factors examined in thematic studies – the role of individuals, religion, the economy and ideas – and how far each challenge changed the balance of power.

The quiz tests key events, dates and causes, including a chronology question. The flashcards drill the vocabulary. The written work asks for explanations and judgements, and two items use short public-domain extracts: a Zestly translation of clause 39 of Magna Carta and the rhyme attributed to John Ball. In the oral exam an examiner asks one question at a time and gives brief feedback at the end.

The material is revision practice written by Zestly and is not produced or reviewed by any exam board; check the details of your own specification with your teacher.

• Explain why the barons rebelled against King John and describe the main terms of Magna Carta
• Explain the significance of Simon de Montfort and the Parliament of 1265
• Explain the causes, events and consequences of the Peasants' Revolt of 1381
• Explain the causes of the Pilgrimage of Grace and why it failed
• Explain why Charles I and Parliament went to war and why the king was executed
• Judge how far these challenges changed the power of the monarchy

Practice material written by Zestly, based on the DfE GCSE history subject content (thematic study) and parts 1–2 of options such as AQA 'Britain: Power and the people: c1170 to the present day' (GCSE History 8145). Extracts: Magna Carta 1215, clause 39 (translated by Zestly from the Latin); the rhyme attributed to John Ball, 1381 (public domain).