Reference no: EM133578803
Assignment:
Some themes to think about: British history before 1689
1.) The development and importance of the monarchy of England: How and when did England emerge as a unified monarchy? How did the Norman Conquest affect the Anglo-Saxon monarchy? How did individual kings, with their particular strengths and weaknesses, affect the powers and institutions of the monarchy? Be prepared to give concrete examples about specific monarchs.
2.) The change of peoples over time: How did the migration (whether by conquest or otherwise) of different peoples to Britain/England affect the development of society, culture, and/orgovernment? What immediate and long-term impacts did the successive influxes of Romans, Anglo-Saxons, Vikings, and Normans have?
3.) The development of English law and its impact on government and society: What were the major steps in the development of common law? Of statute law? How was law related to monarchy? Which king or kings were most decisive in the development of English law?
4.) The significance of the Roman Catholic Church in England: How did the Christian Church impact England and the lives of English people? What was the nature of relations between royal government and the Church? How did different kings deal with the Papacy?
5.) The significance of economic change and social change: How did changes in demographic and agricultural patterns affect the lives of common people? How did major events like the arrival of the Anglo-Saxons or the Black Death affect the economy and society of England?
6.) The origins, development, and significance of parliament: When did it originate and what were its purposes? How did it change over time? How is the concept of the "community of the realm" related to parliament? Who had a voice? What was the relationship between monarchs and the "community of the realm" in English government?
7.) The changing nature of relations between England and its neighbors, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, and France: When and under what circumstances was England connected to these other countries? In what ways, if any, did warfare and/or diplomacy impact domestic politics in England? To what extent did kings of England gain hold over neighboring realms?