The Peasants' Revolt: How an Ordinary Rebel Challenged 14th‑Century England

In 1381, a wave of discontent swept across medieval England after the Crown imposed a poll tax. We follow the rise of Wat Tyler and the rebels’ demands for fiscal reform, looking at contemporary chronicles, legal documents, and later interpretations that still debate the revolt’s intentions and impact. The episode also examines how the uprising tested monarchical authority and sowed seeds for future constitutional developments. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices