The English Peasants’ Revolt of 1381 was not a unique event but part of a larger trend across medieval Europe, where ordinary people rose against rulers who failed to meet their responsibilities. This era, known as the Middle Ages, roughly from 500 to 1500, saw many instances of popular uprisings and collective political action. These revolts often stemmed from economic pressures, social inequality, and a desire for greater political representation. In the 11th and 12th centuries, peasants in northern France resisted paying taxes and doing labor for their noble landlords. Later, in 1381, the English Peasants’ Revolt was sparked by a poll tax imposed by 12-year-old King Richard II to support England’s war with France. The revolt led to attacks on tax collectors, property destruction, and a march on London. Initially, the king promised to abolish the poll tax and end serfdom, but he later withdrew these promises, leading to the suppression of the revolt. Similar unrest occurred across Europe. In 1358, French peasants known as the Jacques attacked noble estates and allied with the middle class in Paris to demand more political influence. In Florence, the Ciompi, who were low-level woolworkers, rose in 1378 after being excluded from the powerful guild system. They briefly gained inclusion in the guilds but were later stripped of their rights again. Even the church faced resistance. After the deaths of church officials, common people sometimes looted their property. In 1314, a papal election in Carpentras, France, turned violent when locals attacked the episcopal palace, delaying the election for nearly two years. In 1378, the election of Pope Urban VI led to the Great Western Schism, where rival popes claimed authority until 1417. Throughout the Middle Ages, people organized through guilds and religious groups to address shared grievances. These networks helped mobilize collective action, especially during times of economic hardship, such as after the Black Death, which caused labor shortages and gave workers more leverage to demand better wages and conditions. Despite the growing power of the church and state, medieval people understood that authority was not absolute. When leaders failed to fulfill their duties, resistance often followed, sometimes violently.