Episode 22 – The End of an Era, 1414-1460 AD

1453 was a watershed in European history. In that year the Turks finally took Constantinople, giving the death blow to the last remnant of the Roman Empire. The news shook Christendom, disturbed its beliefs about divine Providence and destroyed ancient certainties about the natural order of the world. 1453 was also the year in which the Valois monarchy of France won the 100 Years War. From then on two distinct political ‘identity communities’ – of 'England' as separate and distinct from 'France' – took concrete form.