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The late Middle Ages. The century of war, plague and disorder.
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The fourteenth century was disastrous for Britain as well as most of
Europe, because of the effect of wars and plagues. Probably one-third of
Europe's population died of plague. Hardly anywhere escaped its effects.
Britain and France suffered, too, from the damages of war. In the 1330s
England began a long struggle against the French Crown. In France villages were
raided or destroyed by passing armies. France and England were exhausted
economically by the cost of maintaining armies. England had the additional
burden of fighting the Scots, and maintaining control of Ireland and Wales,
both of which were trying to throw off English rule.
It is difficult to measure the effects of war and plague on
fourteenth-century Britain, except in deaths. But undoubtedly one effect of
both was an increasing challenge to authority. The heavy demands made by the
king on gentry and merchants weakened the economic strength of town and
countryside but increased the political strength of the merchants and gentry
whenever they provided the king with money.
