The Magna Carta | Power, Politics, and the Birth of Liberty

The Magna Carta | Power, Politics, and the Birth of Liberty

It’s raining. The men in the group are drenched and have been so almost all day. Nobles in their finest attire stand ankle-deep in mud, their expressions a mixture of triumph and apprehension. Before them, a thin, gray-faced king looks at the document. His jaw clenches.

"You would strip me of my God-given rights?" the king yells, his voice thick with contempt.

"We would remind Your Majesty of your duties to your subjects," replied one of the barons, his voice firm despite the gravity of the moment. "The crown does not place you above the law but binds you to uphold it."

King John's eyes narrow. These men who would dare put limitations on him had brought not just their demands, but their armies. They had seized London; his London. They were standing in his meadow. This was his land and he was their king. Now, they dared to impose demands on him. He knew he had to sign it. He also knew that it wasn’t going to end here.

The King’s hands trembled as he pressed his royal seal into the soft wax at the bottom of the parchment. The Great Charter was been sealed, though neither the king nor the barons could have possibly imagined what such a seal actually meant.

___

Join us as we explore the history of the Magna Carta, its impact on English governance, and its enduring influence on all democracies and constitutional federal republics that have followed.

Episoder(397)

C.S. Lewis | Reluctant Apologist

C.S. Lewis | Reluctant Apologist

Three men walked along a tree-covered path in the early hours of a Sunday morning. Their conversation mixed with the sound of water flowing over rocks in a small river and the crunch of leaves beneath their booted feet. The words they spoke were steeped in deep knowledge of literature and philosophy as they wrestled with the nature of the universe and man’s place in it. The two Englishmen believed that God had created the world and sent His Son to die for mankind’s sins, while their Irish friend was a skeptic who did not believe in anything beyond this life. Then, as their talk turned to myths and the great stories of humanity’s past, a strong autumn wind came up suddenly and sent leaves scattering across the path. The sheer power of the gust filled their hearts with wonder, and they stopped and stood in its midst, as one of them put it, “appreciating the ecstasy of such a moment.” Join us as we teach you about Clive Staples Lewis, his life, his writing, and his lasting legacy.

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Bartolome de Las Casas | A Discussion on a Man Before His Time

Bartolome de Las Casas | A Discussion on a Man Before His Time

Join us and our special guest Father Dominic Verner, Ph.D. candidate, for a discussion on the life and times of Bartolome de Las Casas and his effect on world history.

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Bartolome de Las Casas | A Man Before His Time

Bartolome de Las Casas | A Man Before His Time

Bartolomé de Las Casas was born in Spain in 1484 into a wealthy merchant family. At the age of eighteen, he emigrated with his father Pedro to the new Spanish colony on Hispaniola (the island that is today divided between the nations of Haiti and the Dominican Republic). Pedro de Las Casas obtained a large farm, or hacienda, from the governor along with dozens of slaves. As landowners, the family participated in terrible slave raids across the West Indies to bring thousands of poor souls to the colonies. Bartolomé was disturbed by what he saw, and the horrors set him on a path toward vocal opposition to his government’s inhuman policies toward Native Americans. Join us as we teach you about Bartolomé de Las Casas and his lifelong pursuit of ending the mistreatment and enslavement of indigenous peoples.

10 Jan 202217min

The Christmas of 1914 | The Most Extraordinary Christmas Day

The Christmas of 1914 | The Most Extraordinary Christmas Day

Five months into the First World War, as the European powers were hurling their young men into barbed wire and machine-gun fire, Pope Benedict XV issued a plea "that the guns may fall silent at least upon the night the angels sang." The governments of the warring nations ignored the pontiff's call, and generals ordered their men to continue to fight while the rest of the Christian world celebrated the birth of Jesus. But as midnight approached on Christmas Eve in multiple sectors along the Western and Eastern fronts, officers spoke in hushed tones in English, German, French, and Russian about giving the soldiers under their command a break from the terrors of war. Artillery that had fired constantly since the late summer fell silent, and when the new day began, all was quiet. Join us as we teach you about the Christmas Truce of 1914. From all of us here at 15-Minute History, we wish you a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays. See you in 2022!

20 Des 20219min

Jordan Peterson | A Discussion on Order and Chaos

Jordan Peterson | A Discussion on Order and Chaos

Join us as we discuss Jordan Peterson, his influences, his writings, and his effect on society today.

13 Des 202121min

Special Discussion | Three Historical Figures

Special Discussion | Three Historical Figures

Join Jon and Dan as they each discuss three historical figures and their effect on world history.

6 Des 202152min

Jordan Peterson | Order and Chaos

Jordan Peterson | Order and Chaos

Join us as we teach you about Jordan Peterson, the effect of his philosophy on today's society, and the means by which he affects change (for the good or bad) across the globe.

29 Nov 202113min

Thanksgiving & the Art of Being Thankful

Thanksgiving & the Art of Being Thankful

Join us as we share three stories about Thanksgiving and explore the art of being thankful. This episode originally ran in 2019.

25 Nov 202113min

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