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The Black Death and the Peasants' Revolt

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The Black Death and the Peasants' Revolt The Black Death and the Peasants’ Revolt Timeline of events Key Individuals Key Terms 1066 The Norman Conquest brought the introduction of the Feudal System. Edward III: King of England during the Black Death ConquestAbolish— formally-to take overend oranother stop. country by force 1348 The Black Death came to England, spreading to Wales, Scotland and Ire- Richard II: King of England during the Peasants’ Revolt Buboes—an inflamed swelling of a lymph node, es- land. Medieval doctors believed it could be the result of the movements of the planets; a punishment from God: bad smells and corrupt air; enemies who had John Ball: Priest from Kent who called for the end of the feudal system, criticised the Statute Normandypecially in the - an area area of in the Northern armpit Franceor groin, where that Dukeis poisoned the wells; staring at a victim; wearing pointed shoes. Some of the cures of Labourers and attacked the poll tax. Williamcharacteristic came fromof certain infections, such as bubonic they tried included: rubbing onions, herbs or a chopped up snake (if available) on plague. the boils or cutting up a pigeon and rubbing it over an infected body. People who Wat Tyler: an ex-soldier who, along with John Ball, led the Peasants’ Revolt. He marched a group believed God was punishing you for your sin, 'flagellants', went on processions Catastrophe—an event that causes great damage of rebels from Canterbury to London to oppose the feudal system, the Statute of Labourers and Bayeux Tapestry – a 60m banner celebrating the whipping themselves. Doctors often tested urine for colour and health. An esti- the poll tax. He was killed at Smithfield, during negotiations with Richard II, London. and suffering. mated 3.2 million people died in the British Isles and Ireland. Battle of Hastings Simon Sudbury: the Archbishop of Canterbury killed by peasant rebels. Epidemic—a major outbreak of a disease that 1351 Parliament passed the Statute of Labourers . spreads rapidly to a lot of people. 1377 The government introduced a poll-tax . FeudalPeasant/ system villein— –the a worker feudal undersystem control was a ofway the of 1379 Richard II wanted money to pay for the continuing war against the French. Consequences of the Black Death organisingLord society into different groups based on Another poll tax was introduced. Deaths = 3.2 million people died in the British Isles and Ireland their roles. It had the king at the top with all of the 1381 The Peasants’ Revolt. Rebels in Kent and Essex started marching to Lon- control, and the peasants at the bottom doing all of don. Once there, they attacked the houses of King Richard's advisers,. On 14 Religious: the Black Death changed the way people thought about life. Many people were angry Consolidate – to make something stronger or more the work. June, Richard (only 14 years old) met the rebels at Mile End who wanted him to and bitter, and blamed the Church . certain abolish the feudal system. A group of rebels broke into the Tower of London and Mortality—the death rate as a result of a particular Social: having faced and survived the plague, people began to question their position in society beheaded the Archbishop of Canterbury. On 15 June, Richard II went to Smith- cause. field to meet Wat Tyler. Tyler demanded that the Church's wealth be given to the and challenge the feudal system. Monarch – a King or Queen Poll tax—a tax paid by all adults. Four pence was to poor, and all men should be free and equal. The Lord Mayor of London, fatally Economic: there was a great shortage of workers, and when Parliament passed laws to stop wag- attacked Tyler. King Richard promised to abolish the feudal system. The peasants be taken from every man and woman over the age es rising, poor people became very angry – some historians think this helped to cause the Peas- trusted him and went home. Richard did not keep his promise and his armies put Monarchyof fourteen. – aThe country poor paidwhich the has same a king rate or as queen the down the revolts. Hundreds of rebels were hanged, including John Ball. ants' Revolt of 1381. rich! Questions to consider: Revolt—An uprising against a powerful person or 1. What does the Black Death teach us about the Medieval view of the Reign – time a monarch is in power for Consequences of the Peasants' Revolt group. world ? Was it based on facts, or belief and guesswork? The rebellion had frightened the rich, and made them realise that they could not push the poor 2. How developed was medical knowledge and understanding in the Medie- Serfdom—when peasants were controlled by the too far. No government collected a Poll Tax until 1990. val era? LordFeudal of –the controlling Manor. or renting land 3. Was the Peasants’ Revolt a disorganised rampage or disciplined campaign? Over the following 50 years the demands of the peasants were largely met, even if they were on Statute of Labourers—this law made it illegal for the king’s conditions. Peasants could work for more money and slowly gained more freedoms 4. Should the Peasants’ Revolt be renamed ‘The English Rising’ as priests and Domesdayemployers toBook pay – wages a big list above of who the ownedlevel offered what in in from their lords to work where they pleased and make more of their own choices such as who to landowners joined in the rebellion? England1346 (before the Black Death). marry. 5. What would you say to someone who argued that it was the Peasants' Revolt, not Magna Carta, which laid the foundation of English freedom? Which event was more significant and why? .
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