318: Hundred Years' War: A Game of Thrones (Part 1)

In this podcast episode, we explore the events leading up to the Hundred Years' War, highlighting the contrasting strengths and weaknesses of 14th-century England and France. While France boasted greater wealth, a larger population, and rich cultural prestige, England was forging a stronger national identity under its increasingly Anglicized monarchs. The English capitalized on their unique economic ties, especially with Flanders, to gain influence. The episode also examines the unstable political climate of the time, marked by the tumultuous reigns of English kings like Edward II and the end of the Capetian dynasty in France. This backdrop sets the stage for Philip VI's rise to the French throne and the declaration of war in 1337.