The Long Term Causes Of The Hundred Years War

The Black Plague swept through Europe from 1346-1353 killing an estimated 25-60% of European population; making this one of the most devastating pandemics in human history.
The plague caused the infected victim to have purplish-black tumors all over their body. The death of over at least 70 million people caused social, economic, and political troubles throughout Europe. Since “history is made by the living, not the dead, who are no longer historical actors,” people started to abandon their friends and family in order to escape the risk of being exposed to the Black Plague (Dutton 309) . Religious faith significantly decreased among citizens due to the death of the many of the clergy and that prayer failed to prevent sickness and death.
While on the conquest of England, William of Normandy created a state on both sides of the English Channel. The English kings held the duchy of Guienne in France and they disliked paying homage to the French Kings. The immediate causes of the Hundred Years War were: England’s dissatisfaction with France not restoring a part of Guienne when they pledged to do so, England trying to control Flanders which was an important market for English wool and cloth, and Philip’s support of Scotland against England. Edward the III of England assumed the title of king of France and then began to invade France. With invasions and battles ranging from 1337-1453, England and France were trying to destroy one another. But France ended up with the destruction of its country. Along with the negative impact of the Black Death, France’s population was decimated by war and famine. Louis XI, the successor of Charles VII, decided to exploit these evils to his benefit. Essentially, the feudal nobility ended which enabled him to unite France under the royal authority. Instantly, an entirely new France emerged after being stuck in the ruins from the Hundred Years War. As for England, they ceased to be a continental power and had desires to expand as a dominant naval
The “shipbuilding technology made it possible for mariners to sail farther than ever before into uncharted seas and along unmapped coastlines” (Dutton 360). By the mid-fifteenth century, Europeans were back to full strength and ready to explore the world. Their economy recovered and those who were unable to afford luxury goods could afford the imported goods. Europeans found new trade routes since there was such great competition for shipping lanes and ports in the Mediterranean. Portugal was the key that drove European kingdoms to maritime exploration territorial expansion. Its economy depended on fishing and trade, thus Portugal was a great outlet for getting goods. The Portuguese traded horses, saddles, coth, wine, salt, lead in exchange for gold. They also started to trade goods for slaves and trade them throughout the European economy. Explorers like Amerigo Vespucci and Christopher Colombus lead conquest and exploration overseas to expand the European horizon and reclaim the title of most dominant continent in the