The Black Death caused an unparalleled demographic crisis. With millions dead—estimates suggest 25 to 50 million in Europe alone—the labor force was drastically reduced. This sudden shortage of workers led to economic upheaval. Peasants and laborers found they could demand better wages and living conditions, weakening the old feudal order. L
The year 1348 marks one of the most devastating chapters in human history—the arrival of the Black Death in Europe. This catastrophic pandemic not only decimated the population but also transformed the social, economic, and cultural landscape of the continent for centuries to come. Understanding the history of the Black Death in 1348 reveals how
In early June 1381, the rebel forces reached London, catching the city authorities off guard. They attacked symbols of royal and ecclesiastical power, including the Savoy Palace (home to the unpopular John of Gaunt), and executed several royal officials. King Richard II met the rebels at Mile End and later at Smithfield, where he initially promi
The revolt began in May 1381 in Essex and Kent, counties south-east of London. The immediate trigger was the enforcement of the poll tax collection, which officials tried to carry out aggressively, provoking violent clashes. The rebellion quickly spread as thousands of peasants, artisans, and even some minor gentry took up arms. The rebels organ