The Peasants' Revolt, England 1381 - podcast episode cover

The Peasants' Revolt, England 1381

Jun 17, 20201 hr 12 minSeason 1Ep. 18
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Episode description

When English commoners marched on London in 1381, killing court officials, Flemish immigrants, and anybody associated with John of Gaunt, it was after they had been through years of social unrest following the Black Death, and several harsh taxes.  The Revolt is well known even now, not because of the peasants' demands (which they didn't get -- abolishment of serfdom? executions of all of the king's councilors?  get real), but because John Ball was giving sermons to them (to either rouse their spirits or incite them to riot, depending on how you look at it), and he was preaching the abolishment of class divisions, and the abolishment of private property.  That's what we remember.  (He didn't get his demands, either.)

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