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Late Middle Ages

Explorer · ages 7 and underAdapted from Wikipedia
A detail from the 15th-century manuscript Les Très Riches Heures du duc de Berry, showing a farmer sowing seeds while birds peck at the grain. In the background is the Louvre Palace in medieval Paris.

What Is the Late Middle Ages?

The late Middle Ages was a period of European history that lasted from 1300 to 1500. It came after the High Middle Ages and before Early modern Europe. In many parts of Europe, it came before the Renaissance.

A Time of Hard Times

Around 1350, the good times of growth in Europe slowed down. Bad weather and sickness made life harder for many people. Some people were upset, and there were uprisings. There was also a long conflict called the Hundred Years' War. Together, these troubles are sometimes called the crisis of the late Middle Ages.

A Time of New Ideas

Even with these troubles, this was a time of great progress in art and science. People became interested again in ancient Greek and Roman writings. Printing was invented and spread quickly, so books could be shared with more people. This helped ideas travel far and wide.

Exploring the World

Toward the end of the period, the Age of Discovery began. The growing Ottoman Empire made it harder to trade with the East, so Europeans looked for new routes. In 1492, Christopher Columbus sailed across the sea to the Americas. Later, Vasco da Gama sailed to Africa and India in 1498.

Quiz time!

3 questions about Late Middle Ages

Question 1 of 3

What was invented that helped books reach more people?

Pictures

A map of Europe in the 14th century, showing the kingdoms, empires, and territories that existed during that time.
A view related to the silver mines of Kutná Hora, a Czech town whose silver mining history helped make it wealthy in the Middle Ages.
A view of the courtyard at Beckov Castle, a historic castle in Slovakia.
A historical map showing Europe as it looked around the year 1470.
The Door of the Theses, the bronze church door in Wittenberg, Germany, where Martin Luther is said to have posted his famous list of arguments in 1517.
A map showing the main trade routes of late medieval Europe, including those of the Hanseatic League, Venice, and Genoa.
A painted portrait of Cardinal Hugh of Saint-Cher, a 13th-century scholar and church leader, made by the artist Tommaso da Modena around 1352.
A bar chart showing how many manuscripts were estimated to be made in Europe from the years 500 to 1500, not counting individual deeds and charters.
France by 1477: a mosaic of feudal territories
Urban dwelling house, late 15th century, Halberstadt, Germany

Keep exploring

Middle Ages
High Middle Ages
Early modern Europe
Renaissance
Hundred Years' War
Ancient Greece

This article is a child-friendly adaptation of the Wikipedia article on Late Middle Ages, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

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