Crisis of the late Middle Ages

Quick Facts: Who was Crisis of the late Middle Ages?

Subject:

Crisis of the late Middle Ages

Known for:

A period of profound instability in 14th–15th century Europe marked by famine, plague, and war.

Verified Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

The crisis of the late Middle Ages was a series of events across Europe during the late Middle Ages. These events involved extensive demographic collapse, political instability, and religious upheaval. Collectively, they marked the end of a centuries-long period of relative stability in Europe, and reshaped regional societies. This crisis period coincides with a shift in the regional climate from the Medieval Warm Period to the Little Ice Age. The events of the crisis include the Great Famine of 1315–1317 and the Black Death of 1347–1351, which caused very high mortality across the region.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

The population did not increase to pre-crisis levels until about 1500. Warfare and popular revolts proliferated across the continent, including the English Wars of the Roses, the French Armagnac–Burgundian Civil War, the Hundred Years' War, the Byzantine–Ottoman wars, and the Bulgarian–Ottoman wars. The Catholic Church underwent the Western Schism, and the Holy Roman Empire lost much of its central authority following the Great Interregnum (1247–1273), to the advantage of the German princes. The expression "crisis of the late Middle Ages" is commonly used in western European historiography, especially in English and German, and somewhat less by other western European scholars, to refer to the array of crises besetting Europe in the 14th and 15th centuries. The expression often carries a specification such as the urban crisis of the late Middle Ages, or the cultural, monastic, religious, social, economic, intellectual, or agrarian crisis, or a regional focus such as the Catalan or French crisis.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

By 1929, French historian Marc Bloch was already writing about the effects of the crisis, and by mid-century there were academic debates being held about it. In his 1981 article "Late Middle Age Agrarian Crisis or Crisis of Feudalism?", Peter Kriedte reprises some of the early works in the field by historians writing in the 1930s, including Marc Bloch, Henri Pirenne, Wilhelm Abel, and Michael Postan. Referring to the crisis in Italy as the "Crisis of the 14th Century", Giovanni Cherubini alluded to the debate that had already been going on "for several decades" in 1974, in French, British, American, and German historiography. Arno Borst (1992) states that "it is a given that fourteenth-century Latin Christianity was in a crisis". He goes on to say that the intellectual aspects, as well as how universities were affected by the crisis, have hitherto been underrepresented in academic debate and works ("When we discuss the crisis of the late Middle Ages, we consider intellectual movements beside religious, social, and economic ones"), and gives some examples.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1247: 1247 Milestone — The Catholic Church underwent the Western Schism, and the Holy Roman Empire lost much of its central authority following the Great Interregnum (1247–1273), to the advantage of the German princes.
2. 1315: 1315 Milestone — The events of the crisis include the Great Famine of 1315–1317 and the Black Death of 1347–1351, which caused very high mortality across the region.
3. 1500: 1500 Milestone — The population did not increase to pre-crisis levels until about 1500.
4. 1929: 1929 Milestone — By 1929, French historian Marc Bloch was already writing about the effects of the crisis, and by mid-century there were academic debates being held about it.
5. 1974: 1974 Milestone — Referring to the crisis in Italy as the "Crisis of the 14th Century", Giovanni Cherubini alluded to the debate that had already been going on "for several decades" in 1974, in French, British, American, and German historiography.
6. 1981: 1981 Milestone — In his 1981 article "Late Middle Age Agrarian Crisis or Crisis of Feudalism?
7. 1992: 1992 Milestone — Arno Borst (1992) states that "it is a given that fourteenth-century Latin Christianity was in a crisis".

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Crisis of the late Middle Ages

True or False: “The population levels across Europe did not return to pre-crisis highs until after the Renaissance began.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): The text states that the population did not increase to pre-crisis levels until about 1500.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Giovanni Pisano — Historical peer (Died in 1315) (1315): Master Italian sculptor blending French Gothic and Roman antiquity.
• Emperor Fushimi — Historical peer (Died in 1317) (1317): The 92nd Emperor of Japan, whose reign spanned the turbulent late 13th century.
• Madhvacharya — Historical peer (Died in 1317) (1317): Founder of the Dvaita Vedanta school, a major dualistic tradition in Hinduism.
• Catherine of Siena — Historical peer (Born in 1347) (1347): Italian mystic and diplomat whose letters influenced papal and Italian politics.
• Emperor Go-Kameyama — Historical peer (Born in 1347) (1347): 99th Emperor of Japan, last ruler of the Southern Court during the Nanboku-chō period.
• Muhammad bin Tughluq — Historical peer (Died in 1351) (1351): Eighteenth Sultan of Delhi, known for ambitious, often erratic policies.
• Abd al-Samad — Historical peer (Born in 1500) (1500): Founding master of Mughal miniature painting, active in the 16th century.
• Atahualpa — Historical peer (Born in 1500) (1500): The last effective Inca Emperor, whose reign marked the end of the great Andean civilization.
• Rashid al-Din Hamadani — Historical peer (Born in 1247) (1247): Statesman, historian, and physician of the Ilkhanate period.
• Töregene Khatun — Historical peer (Died in 1247) (1247): Regent of the Mongol Empire, guiding succession from 1241 to 1246.

Frequently Asked Questions about Crisis of the late Middle Ages