1330s

The 1330s refers to the decade spanning 1330 to 1339, a period of political realignments, regional conflicts, and the early stages of long-running wars in Europe, set against the backdrop of a centralizing papacy and enduring medieval institutions. It sits within the broader late medieval world characterized by dynastic competition, shifting borders, and social change.

In Europe, the decade is notable for the beginning of the long conflict now known as the Hundred Years' War, which started in 1337 as Edward III of England asserted a claim to the French throne. Earlier in the decade, Scotland was embroiled in its Wars of Independence, including the Battle of Halidon Hill in 1333, a significant English victory that affected Scottish fortunes. Across the peninsula and within the Holy Roman Empire, power continued to be exercised by regional monarchies, city-states, and princes, often through shifting alliances and feudal arrangements. The papacy remained based in Avignon, shaping religious and political life in western Christendom.

In Asia and the Middle East, the Yuan dynasty in China continued to rule a vast empire under Mongol auspices, though it faced internal pressures and regional challenges that would intensify in the following decades. In the Indian subcontinent, the Delhi Sultanate maintained its regional authority under Muhammad bin Tughluq, pursuing administrative reforms and dealing with local rivalries. The Mamluk Sultanate in Egypt and Syria continued to exercise influence across the Levant and North Africa, balancing frontier pressures with internal governance.

The 1330s thus reflects a world of competing powers and evolving political structures, set within the broader currents of medieval culture, religion, and governance.