MEP3 The Hundred Year War Flashcards
What was the Hundred Years’ War?
1337 King Edward III of England claimed the French throne and declared war on France to protect his economy and power.
Was the Hundred Years’ War one war that lasted 100 years?
No, it was not one long war but a series of battles from 1337 to 1453, mostly done in French lands.
What were the causes of the Hundred Years’ War?
- economic - Edward risked losing taxes - the French threatened to take over Gascony where wine was made (and sold back to England and taxed), and Flanders where wool was turned into cloth
- social - the people in Britain would lose business, such as wool trade, and have to pay higher taxes
- political - Edward thought he had a better claim to the French throne than the actual French king and the French offered to help the Scot’s who Edward was in conflict with
How many stages were there in the Hundred Years’ War and what were their dates?
- 3 stages separated by truces
- stage 1 1337-60
- stage 2 1370
- stage 3 1413-53
What happened in stage 1 of the Hundred Years’ War?
Edward III won important battles
- Crecy 1346
- Poitiers 1356
- gained control of Gascony, Calais and other territories
What happened int Stage 2 of the Hundred Years’ War?
The French won back some of the land they had lost
What happened in stage 3 of the Hundred Years’ War?
- Henry V became englands king and led the English into the Battle of Agincourt in 1415 - the English were tired but luck and good military planning saw them defeat the French
- after Agincourt Henry went on to conquer much of Normandy and tighten his grip on France
- after Henry V’s death the French got back most of the land they had lost
- the French were inspired of Joan of Arc’s leadership to take back control of their country
How did the battlefield help the English in the battle of Agincourt?
The French got stuck in thick mud with their heavy armour - the English archers were able to attack them from a distance
What were three medium term legacy of the Hundred Years’ War?
Medium term
- France was unified under one king
- England lost money because of lost territory e.g. Normandy
- the foot soldier became the key element in the army
- gunpowder, cannons and handguns were used more in battle
- new taxation system was introduced
What were the long term effects of the Hundred Years’ War?
- increased nationalist feeling in both France and England
- the English identity developed - the country began to see itself apart from Europe
- England looked to conquer lands outside Europe and went on to develop an empire
Explain the significance of the Hundred Years’ War for the English identity
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