Chapter III

The Decline of Feudalism in England

I. Hundred Years War (1337-1453)

1. Time: intermittently from 1337 to 1453.

2. Countries: France and Britain

3. Factors: partly territorial and partly economic

The English kings wanted to get back the lost land in France.

The economic interests of England and France clashed in Flanders.

New national consciousness of England

4. Fuse:

French throne succession--- Edward III claimed the French Crown. The French refused to recognize the claim.

5.Three outstanding stages of the war

A. At first the English were brilliantly successful.

B. Henry V renewed the war in 1415 and he was recognized to the French throne in 1420.

C. After Henry V’s death in 1422, the French, encouraged by Joan of Arc, their national heroine, drove the English out of France.

6.Two decisive reasons for French to win:6.Two decisive reasons for French to win:

effective use of guns &“Joan of Arc” 7. 7.Significance:

The war was very expensive and it cost the

English great deal of death, wealth and property,

thus the feudal rule was weakened in the war.

8.Effects of the war:

After this war, the ruling Normans began to:

A. regard England as their home.

B. regard themselves as belongings to the English nation.

C. reestablish English (language) as their official language.

D. make effort to try to develop their industry(The expulsion of the English from France is regarded as a blessing for both countries; the superior size and wealth of France would have hindered the development of separate English national identity, while French national identity was hindered so long as a foreign power occupied so much French territory.)

II. The Economic ChangesNatural economy money economy

III. The Black Death

Black Death swept through England in the summe

r of 1348. It killed between 1/2 and 1/3 of the populati

on of England. As a result of the plague, much land w

as left untended and there was a terrible shortage of l

abor. Villeins struggled for freedom, but the parliame

nt passed “statutes of laborers”, which provided ideol

ogical preparation for the labor movement.

IV. The Peasant UprisingIV. The Peasant Uprising (1381) (1381) 1.Reasons:1.Reasons:

Since the Hundred Years’s War, the conditions of the peasants were not improved.

The villeins struggled for full freedom, but The villeins struggled for full freedom, but the government of Edward II and the Parliamthe government of Edward II and the Parliament issued orders and passed statutes, this aroent issued orders and passed statutes, this aroused a general hatred against the ministers, laused a general hatred against the ministers, lawyers, and landlords.wyers, and landlords.

2. Fuse:2. Fuse: 1381 collection of the poll taxes---a direct tax laid upon each person above 12 years old.

3. Course:

It started in Essex, in May of 1381, and soon it spr

ead to the neighboring countries. Peasants attached c

ollectors, manor houses, castles and monasteries and

killed some ministers and lawyers. Later they held th

e capital. But they believed the king, Richard, and pr

esented two petitions. Half of them went home, but th

e leaders who remained were killed .

4. Wat Tyler: the leader of the uprising, in charge of t

he military. 5. Consequences: far-reachingConsequences: far-reaching

All the forces of social development were against the continuation of serfdom. It was impossible to keep forced labour on the manor, and landlords had to give up useless old feudal rights.

V. The Wars of the Roses(1455--1485)

---Transition to the Modern Age1. Rival groups: the House of Lancaster & the House of York 2. The name of the war: The Lancastrians wore the badge of the red r

ose and the Yorkists wore the badge of the white rose, so the war got such a name.

3. Nature of the war: feudal civil war, for power and wealth, for th

e possession of the Crown

4.Reason: In the Hundred Years’ War, the loss was great. S

o the war-like nobles wanted to recoup for the loss, thus they all wanted to get power. The English nobles began to be divided and began to support different groups, in such a situation, the war broke out. At that time, the House of Lancaster was in power and Henry VI(1422-1461) was the king and the House of York wanted to displace the House of Lancaster.

5. Result: The Yorkist got complete victory, but a third Hou

se, the House of Tudor got the power. Henry VII became the king. So a new important Dynasty began in English history.

6. Consequence

  Although the Wars of the Roses were waged

intermittently for 30 years, ordinary people we

re little affected. From these wars feudalism re

ceived its death blow. The great medieval nobil

ity was much weakened and discredited. The ki

ng’s power now became supreme. This war sh

ook off much of the feudal burden, so it paved

way for the development of capitalism.

The End

Japanese game based on the Hundred Years’ War

Statutes of Laborers• Reason: The shortage of labour caused by the Black De

ath gave the laborers a chance to strike for higher wages , and the villeins struggled for full freedom.

• Contents: All adult men and women below sixty, who did no

t have land or other means of living, must work for landlords and proprietors at the same rates as before the plague and they would be punished if they refused.

Contents of the petitions

It demanded the abolition of serfdom, the abrogation of the Statutes of Laborers and the confiscation of church property and the division of such property among the landless peasants.