Revise Pearson Edexcel GCSE (9-1) History: King Richard I and King John

Overview

• Consultant: Harry Smith
• Author: Kirsty Taylor
• Resource endorsed by Pearson but not a sole requisite for qualification.
• Covers teaching content of King Richard I and King John.

Content Overview

Life and Government in England (1189-1216)

• The Feudal System
  • Hierarchy: King, tenants-in-chief, under-tenants, and peasants.
  • Landholding: King owned 20%, barons and nobles: 55%, Church: remaining.
• Kingship and Succession
  • Kings' power, roles of Richard I and John.
• Royal Government and Finances
  • Governance under Richard and John, revenue collection.
• English Society
  • Rural life, medieval towns, and role of Jews.

Involvements Overseas (1189-1204)

• The Crusades
  • Third Crusade: Causes, Richard's role, and aftermath.
• Normandy
  • Rivalry and loss under John.

King John's Downfall (1205-1216)

• Dispute with Papacy
• Relations with Barons
• Magna Carta and First Barons' War

Detailed Topics

The Feudal System

• Hierarchy and Homage
  • Loyalty and service in return for land.
  • King's demesne: 20% for personal use.
  • Key Terms: Fief, Tenant-in-chief, Under-tenant, Vassal.
• Role of the Church
  • Wealth from land, political influence, spiritual guidance.
  • Structure: Pope, archbishops, bishops, clergy.

Kingship

• Richard I's Reign
  • Coronation and securing power.
  • Death and succession issues with John.
• John as King
  • Challenges in securing power, disputes with papacy.

Governance

• Richard's Governance
  • Absentee king due to crusades.
  • Role of Justiciars.
• John's Governance
  • More personal rule, unpopularity due to financial impositions and disputes.

Finances

• Royal Revenues
  • Taxes: moveables, tallage, feudal incidents.
  • Scutage and sale of offices.

Society

• Rural Medieval England
  • Agrarian society, manorial system.
• Medieval Towns
  • Centers of trade, economic importance.
• Jews in Medieval England
  • Legal status, role in moneylending, anti-Semitism.

Crusades

• Third Crusade
  • Motivations: Religious duty, financial gain.
  • Richard's leadership and rivalry with Philip II of France.
  • Failures to capture Jerusalem.

Normandy

• Competing Aims
  • Importance to Richard, John, and Philip II.
• Chateau Gaillard
  • Built for defense, cost, and strategic importance.

Skills and Practice

• Overview of exam techniques and practice questions.
• Emphasis on describing features, explaining reasons, and making judgments.

Additional Resources

• Reference to official Pearson materials for definitive guidelines.
• Suggested practice questions and exercises for revision.