“What a hundred years are not enough to build, one day is more than enough to destroy” - unknown author (quotes.dictionary.com). This quote explains how during the Hundred Years' War there were battles in which thousands died and entire cities were destroyed, and all of this happened while a better country was trying to build oneself. The Hundred Years' War was a very important period in European history. The Hundred Years' War brought an end to the Middle Ages and significantly changed the ways of warfare. The Hundred Years' War began in May 1337 ("history"). One of the main causes of the Hundred Years' War occurred 200 years before, when Edward III claimed the French throne. The English thus tried to govern the French. Another of the main causes of the Hundred Years' War was the attempt by King Philip VI of France to confiscate the English territories of the Duchy of Aquitaine ("history"). But what were the armies that fought in this war like? The French seemed to have the advantage in the Hundred Years' War because they possessed the most powerful financial and military resources in Western Europe ("Hundred Years' War"). The French army had hired men to fight in the war who were paid a salary. The men were strong and had trained all their lives to fight in wars. Yet the English, with a smaller army, had the upper hand for most of the Hundred Years' War. According to BBC.com, England had a much smaller army than the French. But even though they were smaller, they were victorious over much larger French armies several times. The English army was filled with voluntary recruitment, with a few knights, squires and especially archers. Archery contributed to many of England's victories. The longbow became an important factor...... middle of paper ......s in deserting the English and became an ally of the French. Thus making France too large and populous for the English, ultimately driving England out of France, but not until 1453. (Heritage-History.com) The Hundred Years' War lasted approximately 116 years. During this war, there were many different kings and rulers. The war was hard and trying, interspersed with long periods of peace between England and France during difficult political times. On several occasions, the French were very discouraged, but with the help of a seventeen-year-old girl, they managed to pull through once again and become victorious in this war. As the quote says: “What a hundred years are not enough to build, one day is more than enough to destroy” (quotes.dictionary.com). It took France the Hundred Years' War and more to rebuild its country after the damage of the Hundred Years' War..