The evolution of Parliament

The development of Parliament over one thousand years, from the Anglo-Saxon Witan to the reign of Elizabeth I

• Birth of the English Parliament

How Parliament acquired greater powers and authority over the course of the violent conflicts of the 17th century

• The Civil War
• The Gunpowder Plot
• The Glorious Revolution

How the scope of Parliament's authority gradually widened and how it affected people across the globe

• Parliament and Ireland
• Act of Union 1707
• Parliament and Empire
• Parliament and Europe

How representation of the people, and the powers of those representatives, developed from the 19th century onwards

• The Reform Acts and representative democracy

The House of Lords has existed since the middle ages but its composition and powers have gradually evolved

• House of Lords reform
• Judicial role

How Parliament has informed the public of its work, from 17th century news merchants to 21st century podcasts

• Communicating parliamentary business
• Offices and Ceremonies