lateMedieval

Late Medieval, or the Late Middle Ages, refers to the period in European history roughly from the 14th through the end of the 15th century. It follows the High Middle Ages and precedes the early modern era. The period encompassed both crisis and transformation, including demographic shocks, social upheaval, and economic adjustment, alongside long-term changes in culture, politics, and technology.

Politics and society developed from fragmented feudal authority toward increasing centralization in some kingdoms. The Hundred Years’ War between England and France, along with regional conflicts, helped shape state formation and military practices. Urban centers expanded, trade revived, and a growing merchant class contributed to shifts in economic power. Education flourished in universities, and vernacular literature began to gain prominence alongside traditional scholastic scholarship.

Religion and culture remained dominant in daily life, but the era also witnessed crises and reformist currents. The Catholic Church faced the Great Schism and calls for reform, while Gothic architecture and devotional literature reflected sustained religious devotion. The early Renaissance ideas began to circulate, inspired by contact with the Byzantine and Islamic worlds, and the introduction of printing in the 1450s accelerated the spread of knowledge.

Economy and technology saw gradual monetization, agricultural innovations, and the expansion of long-distance trade. The late medieval period laid the groundwork for the transition to the Early Modern era, marked by the Renaissance, oceanic exploration, the printing revolution, and the consolidation of centralized nation-states.