Towns and villages

In 1066 nine-tenth of people lived in the countryside. Life in the countryside was hard. The houses were made of wooden beams and sticks, filled with mud. They ate cereals and vegetables with pork meat for special occasions.

By 1300 the population was over 4 million, it was hard to get food. Shortage of land led to a sharp rise in prices, so the smaller landed knights found it very difficult to pay for their military service, they became indebted. They came to town on hope for better future.

The late middle ages

Edward III declared war on France in 1337. He had an excuse – he claimed his rights to the French crown. The war was called a Hundred Years War and ended only in 1453 when England lost all its possessions in France.

At first the English were more successful than the French. In 1356 at Poitiers the English took a lot of treasure and even captured the French king. The French king had to give a great sum of money. In 1360 Edward III made a treaty with the French – he had re-established control over his French areas (Aquitainne, Gascony, Normandy and Brittany). But later a French king continued the war again and the lands but for some coastal ports were taken back.

The age of chivalry

Edward III and his son (the Black Prince) were greatly admired for “code of chivalry”, the way in which a perfect knight should behave. A perfect knight fought for his good name if insulted, served God and the king, defended any lady in need.

During the 14^th century there was a continuous struggle between the king and his nobles. The first crisis came in 1327 when Edward II was killed (his wife Isabel and her lover), when Edward III grew older he took revenge. His grandson Richard II (The Black Prince had died before his father) became a king when he was 11 and other people ruled him. He imprisoned his uncle (the third son of Edward III) John of Gaunt who was very powerful, he died in prison. His son Henry de Lancaster didn’t forgive (Henry IV), rebelled and deposed Richard II. There was one more possible heir – earl of March (the grandson of the third son of Edward III). War of Roses: the followers of Lancastrians and Yorkists (earl of March).

War of Roses

Henry VI (the grandson of Henry IV Lancastrian) was a peaceful and book-loving person. And was beaten by Edward IV (Yorkists). Henry VI was put into Tower of London, where he died soon (murdered). In 1485 a challenger with a very distant claim to the throne named Henry Tudor. He took the crown.

The life of the poor

In 1348 appeared the terrible plague (The Black Death), died one-third of population. The less people stayed at work so they could demand more money. Because of expensive labour the lords preferred letting their land out to energetic farmers (“yeomen”).

In 1381 the tax was enforced three times and there was an immediate revolt in two richest parts of the country (East Anglia and Kent). The leader of the revolt was Wat Tyler. The poor took control of half of London, but then Tyler was killed and Richard took advantage of it