Fourteenth Century Europe?

The great schism, the bubonic plague and hundred years war are all important in that they combined to weaken the church and feudal system and help the rise of the national state. The great schism diminished the prestige and power of the papacy, which weakened the institution vis a vis the gradually emerging states. The plague also hurt the image of the church as many priests fled into sanctuaries from which others were excluded; population losses also led to demands for higher wages. The hundred years war led to at least one national hero-joan of arc--who became a national symbol, helping unify the french. That helped end the complete political decentralization of the medieval period.