Chapter III The Decline of Feudalism in England

I. Hundred Years War ( )Hundred Years War 1. Time: intermittently from 1337 to 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 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 Changes Natural economy money economy III. The Black Death Black Death swept through England in the summer of It killed between 1/2 and 1/3 of the population of England. As a result of the plague, much land was left untended and there was a terrible shortage of labor. Villeins struggled for freedom, but the parliament passed “ statutes of laborers ”, which provided ideological preparation for the labor movement.

IV. The Peasant Uprising (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 government of Edward II and the Parliament issued orders and passed statutes, this aroused a general hatred against the ministers, lawyers, and landlords. The villeins struggled for full freedom, but the government of Edward II and the Parliament issued orders and passed statutes, this aroused a general hatred against the ministers, lawyers, 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 spread to the neighboring countries. Peasants attached collectors, manor houses, castles and monasteries and killed some ministers and lawyers. Later they held the capital. But they believed the king, Richard, and presented two petitions. Half of them went home, but the leaders who remained were killed.petitions

4. Wat Tyler: the leader of the uprising, in charge of the military. Consequences: far-reaching 5. Consequences: 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 ( ) ---Transition to the Modern Age 1. Rival groups: the House of Lancaster & the House of York 2. The name of the war: The Lancastrians wore the badge of the red rose 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 the possession of the Crown

4.Reason: In the Hundred Years ’ War, the loss was great. So 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( ) 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 House, 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 were little affected. From these wars feudalism received its death blow. The great medieval nobility was much weakened and discredited. The king ’ s power now became supreme. This war shook 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 Death 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 not 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.