Crises of the Medieval World
A Milestone Documents E-text
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Abstract

The late-medieval period underwent a series of crises that demonstrated the inability of many medieval institutions, such as feudal monarchies and the papacy, to cope adequately with a rapidly changing world. These crises were epidemiological, political, and religious. Late-medieval Europe had a relatively large population particularly vulnerable to crises caused by lack of food or crowded conditions. The problem was compounded by the climactic cooling that followed the end of the medieval warm period around 1300.

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