English

The war lasted from 1339 to 1453—114 years—with no real peace for 5–6 generations. It dragged on so long because neither side was able to achieve a decisive victory or concentrate enough power. King Henry II paid feudal homage to the French king Saint Louis; his fief became Gascony. However, this territory was not legally separated from France. The...

Medieval Florence was an economic great power. In the 15th century, it had 270 wool-processing workshops, 83 silk manufactories, and 33 banks. After the economic crisis of the 14th century, the declining wool industry was replaced by silk production. By 1537, the number of wool workshops in Florence decreased from 270 to 63, while the number...

The Habsburgs