100 Years War
Black Death
Growth of Towns & Barter Economy
100 Years War
THE DECLINE OF FEUDALISM
In the feudal system everything the people needed to have was produced in the manor but as lords traveled to fight in the wars, new trade routes were opened up and the people became aware of new things that they wanted to have like spices, foods and clothes that were not available in England. This caused an increase in trade. The growth of trade led to the decline of feudalism because it caused a growth in new cities and towns which gave the serfs new opportunities for work too.
During the hundred years war many feudal lords went to fight in the wars and lost their lives which left their serfs on their own to find new work and opportunities. After the Hundred Year's Wars, the Parliament became more powerful and the kings power started to get less. The people were supporting the Parliament more because they wanted everyone to be equal and have their own rights. The feudal system was based on landownership and everything was produced within the manor. After the hundred years war England started to move to a money based system and people bought and traded for things from the middle east.
The bubonic plague helped cause the decline of feudalism because it killed more than one third of the population of England and labor workers were scarce and in demand. There weren't enough workers to support the need for serfs in the feudal system. The serfs left to manor to work in the cities and earn their freedom for the lords.
King and the church centralized power and helped bring about the decline of feudalism. Kings began to making laws and bringing more of the common people in to the government. This took away power from the Lords. They also included clergy from the church in to Parliament.
In the feudal system everything the people needed to have was produced in the manor but as lords traveled to fight in the wars, new trade routes were opened up and the people became aware of new things that they wanted to have like spices, foods and clothes that were not available in England. This caused an increase in trade. The growth of trade led to the decline of feudalism because it caused a growth in new cities and towns which gave the serfs new opportunities for work too.
During the hundred years war many feudal lords went to fight in the wars and lost their lives which left their serfs on their own to find new work and opportunities. After the Hundred Year's Wars, the Parliament became more powerful and the kings power started to get less. The people were supporting the Parliament more because they wanted everyone to be equal and have their own rights. The feudal system was based on landownership and everything was produced within the manor. After the hundred years war England started to move to a money based system and people bought and traded for things from the middle east.
The bubonic plague helped cause the decline of feudalism because it killed more than one third of the population of England and labor workers were scarce and in demand. There weren't enough workers to support the need for serfs in the feudal system. The serfs left to manor to work in the cities and earn their freedom for the lords.
King and the church centralized power and helped bring about the decline of feudalism. Kings began to making laws and bringing more of the common people in to the government. This took away power from the Lords. They also included clergy from the church in to Parliament.
The Black Death
Barter Economy
Around 1000 powerful lords brought peace and stability to the economy because wars ended and there was a greater demand for goods from other lands. The people wanted things like cloth, teas and spices from other countries that were brought back from battles in foreign lands. This created a demand for these goods and opened up new trade routes.
Problems with the Barter Economy
When bartering you have to find someone who has what you want and also wants what you have to trade with. This is not always easy. Someone might have something you want, but might not want what you have to trade with.
Also, they might want more than what you want to give or get for an item. You might not agree on the value of goods or services.
Some items cannot be easily divided like a pig or a cow. If someone wanted to trade a bundle of wheat for half a pig, that would not work. The pig cannot be divided up.
In bartering there was no standard unit of measure. One person might decide that a bundle of wheat is based on how much he can wrap his arms around but another person might decide that a bundle of wheat is 100 stalks. This made for unbalanced trading.
Also when bartering, you use the goods that are traded for. If you keep them, they don't grow in value so you can trade them later to someone else for more money or value.
When bartering you have to find someone who has what you want and also wants what you have to trade with. This is not always easy. Someone might have something you want, but might not want what you have to trade with.
Also, they might want more than what you want to give or get for an item. You might not agree on the value of goods or services.
Some items cannot be easily divided like a pig or a cow. If someone wanted to trade a bundle of wheat for half a pig, that would not work. The pig cannot be divided up.
In bartering there was no standard unit of measure. One person might decide that a bundle of wheat is based on how much he can wrap his arms around but another person might decide that a bundle of wheat is 100 stalks. This made for unbalanced trading.
Also when bartering, you use the goods that are traded for. If you keep them, they don't grow in value so you can trade them later to someone else for more money or value.