Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book presents the late medieval period in themes, such as the Church, women, warfare and monarchy for example. The period of 1300-1550 has been deliberately chosen as significant. The geographical spread of this book is contained within the bounds of the influence and authority of the Roman Catholic Church. Europe at 1300 was still threatened on its eastern borders by the Turks, but by 1550 these borders had been firmly established, with the kingdom of Hungary at the forefront of this fight. The Crusader States in the Holy Land had been lost by this date and any crusades in period were against the Turkish threat or heretics. The late medieval period is a fascinating time of changes, developments, murder, mayhem and crisis. The book finally focuses on the countries of England, France, Spain, Italy and Germany.