Final answer:
The Hundred Years' War involved England and France fighting over claims to French lands and the French crown. This conflict contributed to the decline of feudalism and rise in social mobility for peasants, leading to significant shifts in medieval European social structures and the formation of modern states.
Step-by-step explanation:
Hundred Years' War and the Shift in Medieval Europe
The Hundred Years' War was a series of conflicts from 1337 to 1453 that saw the kingdoms of England and France locked in a struggle over French lands claimed by the English monarchy. Contesting the French crown following the death of Charles IV without a male heir exacerbated tensions, and the English King Edward III laid claim to the French throne, leading to widespread devastation, particularly in France where much of the fighting took place. This conflict marked significant changes in both military tactics and social structures.
Feudalism declined as the war continued, with peasants gaining some status and power. The need for large, professional standing armies led to a decrease in the traditional military role of mounted knights, which, along with the use of technologies such as the longbow, diminished the importance of traditional cavalry. Peasants could now find opportunities for social mobility by serving in these armies and earning wages in addition to potential spoils from battles.
As the traditional feudal structure shifted, so did the power dynamics within Europe. These changes, combined with external pressures such as the bubonic plague and internal strife like peasant rebellions, led to the emergence of modern nation-states and weakened European nobility and the Church, setting the stage for the Reformation and the modern era.