What Is This Document?

This week, Scott and Karl read and discuss the 63 clauses of the Magna Carta. 

In 1215, Bad King John pledged, under duress, to his barons that he would obey “the law of the land” when he affixed his seal to a charter that came to be called Magna Carta. 

Few men have been less mourned, few legal documents more adored.

Although most of the charter deals with medieval rights and customs, the Magna Carta has become a powerful symbol of liberty, influencing the likes of Thomas Jefferson and Mahatma Gandhi.

So how should you read an 800-year-old legal document?

Scott says, “Read it not straight-ahead for what it says, but what it must be reacting to.” Karl adds, “Presume that the people that are writing this are just as human as you are, just as smart as you are. It’ll give you a more sympathetic, more understanding reading of this stuff.”

Tune in to hear a fascinating discussion of the history and legacy of one of the most celebrated documents in history.