Hello everyone, welcome to the history of England. Episode 131, the history of Europe, part

of the family.

Now then, the last time we looked at the broader European context was a good while ago,

fact about a year ago. And I think it is time gentle listeners for some more. So over

the next three episodes, we'll spend a bit of time looking at the 14th century in Europe

and what it brings, and bring you up to date with Europe roughly at the start of the

reign of Henry IV, so that we can put him to the context of the world in which he lived.

So we could make this episode a general economic survey, and a discussion about technology and

innovation, and the next two all about politics. Shall we do that? Anyone out there object?

No, then let's do that.

I have to be honest and say that in the discussions we've had about the Great Famine of 1315 and

the Black Death in England, we have introduced the main themes. You might keep three themes

about the 14th century in your head, if unlike me, you are capable of holding that many

thoughts at the same time.

Number one is the general background of stagnation and decline. After centuries of expansion,

broadly the limit of that expansion has been reached. Secondly, a series of nasty shocks

hit the body economic. The Black Death is the most obvious, but war is another, it

impact much debated, but there without doubt.

But the third is about innovation, change and progress.

Let's have a hack at the economic stagnation and decline thing first, since you should

be reasonably familiar with that.

The basic thesis is that somewhere near the end of the 13th century, the medieval warm

...