Compare the scholarly interpretations by Vincent and Holt to those of Church and Gillingham. What does each scholar say about John’s reign and about the reason that Magna Carta was created. How are their interpretations different? Are there any points of agreement? Which do you find more convincing and why?

1. Why was Magna Carta written? Use evidence from as many primary and scholarly sources as possible to support your response. Pick one source (any primary, scholarly, literary, or visual source in the collection) that contradicts your assessment and explain why you find it less convincing.
2. Compare the scholarly interpretations by Vincent and Holt to those of Church and Gillingham. What does each scholar say about John’s reign and about the reason that Magna Carta was created. How are their interpretations different? Are there any points of agreement? Which do you find more convincing and why?

3. What do the clauses of the Magna Carta suggest about the reason for its creation? What other primary, literary, and visual sources seem to support this assessment? Compare this contemporary perspective to the scholarly interpretation by either Holt or Vincent.