London

The article examines certain aspects of the social life of the City during the period of the plague (1348–1351) based on the documentation of the London Magistrate. It is shown that the Black Death dealt the most severe blow to the capital’s guilds, depriving them of workers and temporarily disorganizing production, which affected both the quality of manufactured products and relations inside trade and craft corporations, contributing to their further decline.

The article examines the relations between London and the cities of Continental Europe in the first period of the Hundred Years’ War. It is shown that the beginning of the conflict for the citizens of London was associated with the need to strengthen the security of the city, supply armed detachments, subsidize the crown. London maintained contacts with the cities of Continental Europe, primarily Flanders, “English Gascony” and Normandy.

The article examines the directions and forms of socio-economic interaction between London and provincial towns of England in 1350– 1370 based on the material of the original sources. It is shown that the main sphere in their relationship was trade, which was implemented in various organizational forms, with extensive use of commodity and monetary credit. Also, the field for interaction was the return of runaway apprentices who left the masters in London and found refuge in different cities of England.

Some aspects of London`s criminality at the beginning of the XIV century are considered in this article based on the authentic material. The author reveals the factors which contributed to manifestation of crime as some kind of deviant behavior and presents classification of London`s crimes in 1305; the author also identifies social and professional composition of criminals and the types of punishments.

The article is devoted to the study of the social aspect of the life of Tudor London. On the material of the wills the author shows that the majority of the testators are artisans, small traders and merchants of the «Twelve Great Livery Companies» of London. Also, there are representatives of the service sector, gentry and the emerging intelligentsia. Among the recipients of the inheritance numerous church institutions of the city are mentioned. Some wills belong to women: wives or widows of merchants and artisans.

The article is devoted to London crimes in late Medieval period. Various factors that influenced the manifestation of criminal inclinations among citizens are considered. From all of the crimes committed in London the author divided them into categories. The author pays special attention to the most socially dangerous and serious crimes: treason, rebellion and heresy.

The article on the material of wills examines the social side of the life of Londoners in the era of the late Plantagenets. The author finds out that the majority of testaments refers to a professional community: to merchants and mongers, to artisans and workers in the service sector, as well as to the nascent intelligentsia and administrative apparatus. These categories are disproportionate – the majority of testators belong to the merchants and craftsmen of the townspeople.

The article examines the place and role of women in the social life of London in the 14th–15th centuries based on the material of the original sources. It is shown that, despite the restrictions fixed by custom and laws on the social activity of women, the range of occupations of the townsmen –wives and widows – was unusually wide. It is craft and trade, including the right to take apprentices, real estate transactions, and financial deals. Women did not just help men in the craft or trade shops, but also worked independently.