This seventh volume of The New Cambridge Medieval History covers the last century (interpreted broadly) of the traditional Western Middle Ages. It takes account of much new research and modern, interdisciplinary approaches to the study and writing of history to present a broad view of late medieval society across Europe. It deals with ideas about government, social and economic change and development, the world of the spirit, as well as the history of individual countries, in many of which the powers of central government were greatly extended.