📕 Chapter 3: A Long and Illustrious History
What does 'Magna Carta' mean?
Correct answer: Great Charter
A Royal Decree
✓ Great Charter
C King's Law
D Noble Agreement
💡 Explanation
Magna Carta means 'Great Charter'.
Key facts to remember
- King John forced to sign Magna Carta in 1215
- Signed at Runnymede near Windsor
- Established that the king is subject to the law
- One of the most important constitutional documents
- Protected rights of nobility and limited royal power
- Influenced development of democracy and human rights worldwide
Why this is the answer
From the official Life in the UK study material — 3.2.2 The Magna Carta 1215:
In 1215, King John was forced by his barons to sign the Magna Carta (the Great Charter) at Runnymede, near Windsor. The barons were angry about high taxes and the king's abuse of power. The Magna Carta established the principle that even the king was subject to the law and could not rule arbitrarily.
The Magna Carta is one of the most important documents in constitutional history. It protected the rights of the nobility and limited the power of the king. Key principles included the right to a fair trial and the idea that no free man could be imprisoned without lawful judgement. These ideas later influenced the development of democracy and human rights around the world.
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