Every century seems generally characterized by some pre-eminent feature or aspiration, or marked tendencies, the study of which deserves the special attention of the student of history, as they facilitate the comprehension of the general progressive movements of humanity. Thus the fourteenth century is conspicuous by its numerous popular insurrections, evincing the yearnings of the people and their efforts to obtain greater justice at the hands of their masters. They appear as follows:—Wilhelm Tell, in 1308; Jacques van Artevelde, in 1354; Rienzi, 1354; Marino Faliero, 1355; the Jacquerie, 1358; Michele di Lando, 1378; and Wat Tyler, 1385. Recent researches and documents have thrown a new light on those historical episodes of the fourteenth century, and on none more so than on the Jacquerie.