Who was John Ball?
- Who was John Ball?
John Ball was a priest from the county of Kent who took a part in peasants’ revolt in England. He was therefore confined to the archbishop of Canterbury prison thrice.
- What was John Ball’s general complaint?
His general complaint was about the social inequality that was practiced in the English society at that time. He believed that there should be no masters and lords of any kind.
- What was the king’s initial response to the revolt?
The king gathered a certain number of me at arms and five hundred spears and as many archers and set to London followed by them.
- How did the revolt finally end?
The people pointed each other out to be the real perpetrators and many around fifteen hundred were beheaded or hanged. The remaining went back to their homes thanking the king for sparing their lives.
- Was the author of this document an eyewitness to the events he describes?
No, he was not an eyewitness. He is speaking based on the information he has.
- What seems to be the personal opinion of the author about the revolt?
The author seems to believe that the revolt has a trifle effect but it was undoubtedly exemplary.
- Given your answer to questions 5 and 6, do you trust the author’s account of this revolt to be factual and true? Why or why not?
In my opinion, the revolt must have happened as the overall flow of the account of events make a sense to me.
- What does this account tell you about life in medieval England in general?
It explores the difficulties the common people had to face on daily basis and the levels of discrimination. It also tells of the severe kind of punishments the kings awarded to strengthen their power.
- For a moment, think about how this revolt ended. What does the outcome tell you about the peasants who took part in it?
I believe that the peasants were not fully committed to the cause. There is also a possibility that they severely lacked the resources to carry on the revolt in a meaningful way.
- In the same fashion, what does the outcome tell you about the king?
The king understood the psychology and complicated situation the peasants had put themselves in. He knew he can curb the revolt with this ease.
