历史小径·世界史英语30篇（4）
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Magna Carta: A Document That Limited Power
《大宪章》：一份限制权力的文件
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In 1215, English barons forced King John to agree to the Magna Carta at Runnymede near London.
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It did not create democracy, but it stated clearly that even the king must obey the law.
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Key clauses protected church rights, ensured fair trials, and prevented illegal imprisonment.
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Although King John broke the agreement almost immediately, later monarchs were reminded of its principles.
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English judges and Parliament referred to it repeatedly during the 13th and 14th centuries.
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When colonists sailed to America, they brought copies and cited its ideals in early legal documents.
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Modern democracies view it as a symbolic root of constitutional government and human rights.
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Its real power grew not from force, but from repeated reinterpretation across centuries.