Late-Medieval-Period
The Late-Medieval-Period, which spans approximately from the mid-13th to the late 15th century, is a pivotal era in European history marked by significant socio-political, economic, and cultural transformations.
Historical Context
The Late-Medieval-Period follows the High Middle Ages, a time of relative stability and growth, and precedes the Renaissance. It's characterized by:
- Feudalism Decline: The traditional feudal system began to weaken due to economic changes, the growth of centralized monarchies, and the rise of a money-based economy.
- Urbanization: There was a notable increase in the population of towns and cities, leading to the development of Medieval Guilds and the rise of the Bourgeoisie.
- Crises and Recovery: This period saw several crises like the Black Death, famines, and wars, followed by a phase of recovery with population growth and economic expansion.
Political Changes
- Centralization of Power: Monarchies in places like England, France, and Spain began centralizing power, reducing the autonomy of feudal lords.
- Hundred Years' War: This conflict between England and France (1337-1453) influenced the development of national identities and state structures.
- The Wars of the Roses: In England, this series of civil wars from 1455 to 1487 led to the rise of the House of Tudor, marking the end of the medieval period in England.
Cultural and Intellectual Developments
- Early Humanism: The beginnings of humanism, which would later flourish in the Renaissance, can be traced back to this period, with figures like Petrarch questioning the medieval scholasticism.
- Religious Movements: The period saw the beginnings of the Lollards movement in England, the Hussites in Bohemia, and other pre-reformation movements that would eventually lead to the Protestant Reformation.
- Art and Architecture: Gothic architecture reached its peak, exemplified by cathedrals like Notre-Dame de Paris. There was also a shift towards more naturalistic art, reflecting a change in societal values.
Economic Shifts
- Commercial Revolution: The period witnessed the growth of trade, banking, and the beginnings of modern capitalism. The Hanseatic League dominated trade in Northern Europe.
- Technological Advances: Innovations in agriculture, like the three-field system and the heavy plow, increased productivity, leading to demographic growth.
Notable Events
- The Black Death (1347-1351), which drastically reduced the population of Europe, leading to social and economic upheaval.
- The Great Schism (1378-1417), where there were rival claimants to the Papacy, further weakened the authority of the Church.
- The fall of Constantinople to the Ottomans in 1453, often seen as the symbolic end of the Middle Ages.
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