The Middle Ages, often referred to as the Dark Ages, was regarded to be a time of despair, disease, and death. Just as the name the “Dark Ages” suggests, this period of European history seemed to be surrounded by darkness and hopelessness. Unfortunately, the majority of people only see this side of the Middle Ages when, in fact, the Middle Ages was a much more important era. Especially during the late Middle Ages, one can find a change in orthodox social structure, political instability mostly concerned with succession to the throne, and economic changes and how those changes went hand in hand with the change in society. After certain demographical changes and turning points such as the Hundred Years’ War, Europe bdf fdf , unlike popular belief, the late Middle Ages was a time when absolute monarchy began to die and when social structure seemed to be flipping upside down due to drastic changes in economic practices.
Politics in the late Middle Ages is best described as instable due to competition for succession and power. The most significant event during this time period was the Hundred Years’ War, basically a territorial conflict and competition for succession between the king of England and the king of France after the Capetian monarchy crumbled. (Spielvogel 281) After the Hundred Years’ War, Europe was put under a period of adversity in terms of their political stability. fadgevy new taxes.” (Spielvogel 285) The English monarch no longer had absolute power; he had a “commitment to levy no direct tax without Parliament’s consent.” (Spielvogel 285) In France, absolute monarchy and “much of its wealth had been dissipated… [making] effective monarchical rule a virtual impossibility.” (Spielvogel 285) Further proving the weakness of French unity was the Estates-General, a parliamentary institution that failed to represent all of the French people. Then after the French king, Charles VI, became unable to rule, many “rival factions of French nobles” sought the...