Europe in the 14th and 15th centuries Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Europe in the 14th and 15th centuries - Essay Example The latter, is itself the result of the change in weather patterns at the dawn of the 14th century. It was at this point in time that Europe went through a period of bad weather, characterized by severe winters and rainy and cold summers. This caused crop yields to decline and as a result, there was inadequate food supply to feed the whole population. The Great Famine was followed by the Hundred Years War that was fought between Britain and France. Although conflict between the two states dates far back, it was only in the 14th century when the two states constantly engaged in disputes. This crisis brought about great economic losses for both states as well as loss of human life. However, the effects of such economic loss were most felt when the next crisis hit Europe, the Black Death. The Black Death is the most notable pandemic to hit Europe. It struck in the mid-14th century (1347-1351). The result of such pandemic was a huge loss of life when around one third of Europe's total population was killed. This event occurred while England and France were engaged in the battles of the Hundred Years War. As a result, the two states were placed in a situation where they found themselves with depleted treasures and infrastructure and faced with the problems of poverty, malnutrition, disease, and hunger. The aforementioned problems characterize the situation Europe found itself in during the 14th an