Today’s episode in our history of revolutionary ideas is about a medieval document that is sometimes thought to contain a ground-breaking promise of basic political rights. David talks to historian Nick Vincent about Magna Carta (1215) and what it did and didn’t actually say. Why did the warring parties agree to it? Was it a constitutional charter or a peace treaty? What happened when its terms were broken? And how did it come to acquire the totemic significance it has today?

Sign up now to get our free fortnightly newsletter out tomorrow – with writing, clips, links and more to accompany this series https://www.ppfideas.com/newsletters

Come to see PPF recorded live! As part of the Curious Minds festival in Bath David will be in conversation with regular PPF contributor Robert Saunders about the legacy of Winston Churchill: The Politician With Nine Lives. It’s happening at the Komedia in Bath at 11am on Saturday 29th March. Tickets now available https://www.ppfideas.com/event-list

Next up in The History of Revolutionary Ideas: Humanism

Past Present Future is part of the Airwave Podcast Network

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices