1330

1330 was a year in the 14th century, occurring during the broader period of the Middle Ages. It took place in the era of the Avignon Papacy, when the papacy resided in Avignon rather than Rome, under Pope John XXII. The year sits within a mosaic of feudal monarchies, shifting alliances, and regional centers of power rather than a single, unified political narrative.

In Europe, the kingdoms of England and France were ruled, respectively, by Edward III and Philip VI. European politics during this time featured dynastic competition and evolving forms of governance as rulers managed crisscrossing loyalties, obligations, and conflicts. Tensions between England and France would intensify in the years that followed, contributing to the onset of the Hundred Years’ War later in the decade.

The Iberian Peninsula continued the broader effort of the Reconquista, with Christian kingdoms pursuing campaigns against Muslim-ruled territories and shaping the balance of power in the region. In the eastern Mediterranean, Byzantine influence remained diminished from the height of its earlier power, while Latin and local powers contended for influence in Greece and the surrounding areas.

In Asia, the Yuan dynasty held sway over China, continuing the Mongol-ruled imperial framework established earlier in the century. The Ilkhanate in Persia and adjacent regions persisted in a period of political flux following the earlier fragmentation of Mongol rule.

Culturally and intellectually, medieval scholasticism and monastic scholarship continued to influence learning, with universities and religious institutions producing scholars, clerics, and administrators who contributed to law, theology, philosophy, and science. 1330 thus reflects the era’s characteristic blend of regional power, religious authority, and enduring cultural activity.