fourteenthcentury

The fourteenth century, spanning 1300 to 1399, was a period of profound change in the late Middle Ages. Political rivals, religious institutions, and expanding urban cultures interacted across Europe, the Mediterranean, and parts of Asia, setting patterns that would influence subsequent centuries.

Climate and catastrophe: The century began after climatic changes of the late 13th century, followed by the Great Famine of 1315–1317. The Black Death reached Europe in 1347 and recurred through the 1350s, causing large population losses, labor shortages, and social disruption.

Political and religious developments: The Hundred Years' War between England and France (1337–1453) dominated much of the era. The Papacy resided in Avignon from 1309 to 1377, undermining papal legitimacy and contributing to the Western Schism that began in 1378. In the Balkans and Anatolia, Ottoman forces expanded into Europe, while in East Asia the Ming dynasty supplanted the Yuan in 1368.

Society and economy: The demographic collapse and economic strain produced social unrest, including the English Peasants' Revolt of 1381 and the Ciompi Revolt in Florence in 1378. Persistent labor changes, urbanization, and shifts in landholding altered medieval economies and state formation.

Culture and learning: The century produced notable literature and scholastic activity, with Dante, Petrarch, and Boccaccio shaping Italian humanism, and Geoffrey Chaucer laying early groundwork in English literature. Gothic architecture and the growth of universities reflected continued cultural vitality.