The 1381 English Peasant's Rebellion episode artwork

EPISODE · Mar 16, 2025 · 40 MIN

The 1381 English Peasant's Rebellion

from A Popular History of Unpopular Things · host Kelli Beard

Join Kelli as she goes over the history of the English Peasant's Rebellion, 1381.The Black Death had severely impacted England - not just in high mortality rates, but also its ability to function within its strict feudal order. To help compensate for the drop in workers, and to try and get the economy back on track, Edward III passes the Statute of Laborers in 1351. But what this did was set in motion a rage against feudalism, government intervention, and inequality that manifested as the Peasant's Rebellion, led by men like Wat Tyler and John Ball, in 1381.The Peasant army would meet King Richard II in London, and it was an absolute bloodbath.Let's go over the historical context that leads us to the Rebellion, then the event itself. It's a fascinating story that shows us how far the common folk are willing to be pushed before they break.Intro and Outro music credit: @nedricmusicFind him on all streaming services and YouTube!http://www.nedricmusic.com SourcesBooks:Dan Jones, Summer of Blood (2009)Elizabeth Kimball Kendall, Source-book of English History (2015)Rosemary Horrox, The Black Death Medieval Sourcebook (1994)Articles/Online Sources:“Ordinance of Laborers, 1349” Fordham University Medieval History Sourcebook https://sourcebooks.fordham.edu/seth/ordinance-labourers.asp“Tales from Froissart: Beginning of the English Peasant Revolt” Nipissing University https://uts.nipissingu.ca/muhlberger/FROISSART/PEASANTS.HTMSupport the showIntro and Outro music credit: Nedric | Yello KakeFollow me on Instagram! @beardhistoryIf you want to support the show, donate to the cause at Buy Me a Coffee

Join Kelli as she goes over the history of the English Peasant's Rebellion, 1381. The Black Death had severely impacted England - not just in high mortality rates, but also its ability to function within its strict feudal order. To help compensate for the drop in workers, and to try and get the economy back on track, Edward III passes the Statute of Laborers in 1351. But what this did was set in motion a rage against feudalism, government intervention, and inequality that manifested as the Pe...

NOW PLAYING

The 1381 English Peasant's Rebellion

0:00 40:41

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

No similar episodes found.

No similar podcasts found.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of A Popular History of Unpopular Things?

This episode is 40 minutes long.

When was this A Popular History of Unpopular Things episode published?

This episode was published on March 16, 2025.

What is this episode about?

Join Kelli as she goes over the history of the English Peasant's Rebellion, 1381.The Black Death had severely impacted England - not just in high mortality rates, but also its ability to function within its strict feudal order. To help compensate...

Is there a transcript available for this episode?

Yes, a full transcript is available for this episode. You can read the complete transcript on the episode page.

Can I download this A Popular History of Unpopular Things episode?

Yes, you can download this episode by clicking the download button on the episode player, or subscribe to the podcast in your preferred podcast app for automatic downloads.
URL copied to clipboard!