The Black Death
plague struck at a desperate time (pop increase) resulting in
• strained food supply
• Crop failures between 1315 and 1317
• high unemployment and low wages
o Black Death followed trade routes from Asia
• Plague moved from south to north
o "bad air" was believed to be the cause of the plague
• some blamed poisonous fumes from earthquakes
o Remedies
• people wore perfume or strong smelling plants
• changes in lifestyle
• some people remained in seclusion
• flagellants were people who whipped themselves to "appease god
• Jews as scapegoats
o Pogroms occurred in several cities
• Social and Economic Consequences
o Farms decline
• Supply and demand
• many serfs demanded money payments and some pursued the more lucrative
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• French kings and nobles thought it was disgusting that the king of England owned land in France
• England and France fought for/over control of Flanders
• General hate between England and France
o French Weakness
•French monarchy was still undergoing centralization campaign causing disunity
• Inferior military
• Economic troubles
• "Mediocre" leadership from the French monarchs
o Three major stages
• One: Conflict during the reign of Edward III (as above)
• Edward stopped English wool to Flanders, this inspired rebellions by trade guilds and merchants against the French monarchy in Flemish cities (organized by Jacob van Artevelde)
o Flemish cities entered alliance with English and recognized Edward III as their king
• English naval victory in the Bay of Sluys (first major battle of the war)
• Battle of Crecy (1340)
o English victory in Normandy leading to the French port of Calais being captured
• plague years resulted in a pause in the war
• Battle of Poitiers (1356)
o English victory over the French cavalry
o Stage Two: French Defeat and the Treaty of Troyes
• Edward III died in 1377 resulting in England experiencing domestic issues-reign of Richard II
o English Peasant Revolt (1381)
• John Ball + Wat Tyler led revolt
• peasants + artisans joined to demand