Black death 1

Black Death: Economy, Society and Religion

By facebooker_596325999
  • Period: Jan 1, 1300 to Jan 1, 1520

    The World of the Black Death: Economy, Society and Religion in the British Isles, c. 1300-1520

  • Jan 1, 1315

    The Great Famine (1315-1317)

    The Great Famine (1315-1317)
    Great FamineIn the spring of 1315, unusually heavy rain began in much of Europe. Throughout the spring and summer, it continued to rain and the temperature remained cool. These conditions caused widespread crop failures. The straw and hay for the animals could not be cured and there was no fodder for the livestock. The price of food began to rise. Food prices in England doubled between spring and midsummer. Salt, the only way to cure and preserve meat, was difficult to obtain.
  • Jan 1, 1320

    Cattle and Sheep 'Murrain'

  • Jan 1, 1337

    Start of Hundred Years War

    Start of Hundred Years War
    Lots of money was taken out of circulation in England as it was used to finance the war abroad. E.g. Payment for German and Dutch allies, English army camped in Flanders meant that pay was being spent in that economy. In 1343, there was a famine, but there was no rise in prices as there was no more money in circulation!
  • Jan 1, 1340

    Edward III takes over wool trade

    Tried to manipulate the wool market but failed, English wool was sold cheaply but then proceeds spent abroad.
  • Jan 1, 1344

    Recoinage

    by Edward III.
  • Jan 1, 1348

    'Black Death' - Bubonic plague

    'Black Death' - Bubonic plague
    Black Death
  • Jan 1, 1351

    1st Statute of Provisors

    Free elections to bishoprics, no papal appointments, recommended by royals.
  • May 11, 1351

    Statute of Labourers

    Statute of Labourers
    The Statute of Labourers was a law enacted by the English parliament under King Edward III in 1351 in response to a labour shortage, designed to stabilize the labor force by prohibiting increases in wages and prohibiting the movement of workers from their home areas in search of improved conditions. Wages were frozen to the level they were at in 1346, in an attempt to keep wage costs down.
  • Jan 1, 1353

    1st Statute of Praemunire

    If cases should be heard by English courts, illegal to take them elsewhere (i.e. Rome)
  • May 11, 1362

    Recurring Plague (1360-1362)

    Recurring Plague (1360-1362)
    Killed 20% of the population of English population.
  • May 11, 1368

    Recurring Plague (1368-1369)

    Recurring Plague (1368-1369)
  • Jan 1, 1375

    Recurring Plague

    Recurring Plague
  • Feb 1, 1377

    Poll Tax

    Poll Tax
    The Hilary Parliament, held between January and March 1377, levied a poll tax in 1377 to finance the war against France at the request of John of Gaunt who, as King Edward III was mortally sick, was the de facto head of government at the time. This tax covered almost 60% of the population, far more than lay subsidies had earlier. In 1377, every lay person over the age of 14 years who was not a beggar had to pay a groat (4d) to the Crown.
  • Jan 1, 1379

    1379 Poll Tax

    1379 Poll Tax
    The Hilary Parliament, held between January and March 1377, levied a poll tax in 1377 to finance the war against France at the request of John of Gaunt who, as King Edward III was mortally sick, was the de facto head of government at the time. This tax covered almost 60% of the population, far more than lay subsidies had earlier. It was levied three times, in 1377, 1379 and 1381. By 1379 that had been graded by social class, with the lower age limit changed to 16.
  • Jan 1, 1380

    Fall in general prices

    Benefited general men and women.
  • Jan 1, 1381

    John Wycliffe expelled from the University of Oxford

    The term "Lollard" refers to the followers of John Wycliffe, a prominent theologian who was dismissed from the University of Oxford in 1381 for criticism of the Church, especially his doctrine on the Eucharist. Its demands were primarily for reform of Western Christianity.
  • Feb 1, 1381

    1381 Poll Tax

    1381 Poll Tax
    The Hilary Parliament, held between January and March 1377, levied a poll tax in 1377 to finance the war against France at the request of John of Gaunt who, as King Edward III was mortally sick, was the de facto head of government at the time. This tax covered almost 60% of the population, far more than lay subsidies had earlier. It was levied three times, in 1377, 1379 and 1381. The levy in 1381 was particularly unpopular, as each person aged over 15 was required to pay the amount of 1 shilling
  • Jun 1, 1381

    Peasants Revolt

    Peasants Revolt
    Peasants' Revolt The revolt was precipitated by King Richard II's heavy-handed attempts to enforce the third medieval poll tax, first levied in 1377 supposedly to finance military campaigns overseas. The Black Death that ravaged England in 1348 to 1350 had greatly reduced the labour force, and, consequently, the surviving labourers could demand higher wages and fewer hours of work.
  • Jan 1, 1385

    Upsurge in new cloth industry

    Upsurge in new cloth industry
    A number of towns, e.g. Coventry benefited and grew as a result of a boom in cloth production.
  • Jan 1, 1391

    2nd Statute of Provisors

    Severe penalties for getting or helping to get ecclesiastical appointment at Rome, (i.e. fine)
  • Jan 1, 1393

    3rd Statute of Praemunire

    Prohibited summonses to Rome from being brought into kingdom.
  • Jan 1, 1416

    Council of Constance

    ended the Great Schism, the existing two popes were deposed and a new one was elected (Martin V).
  • Jan 1, 1440

    Low grain prices

    During this decade food prices were low and farmers who rented land struggled to pay their rents.