Which century is defined by global pandemics, shifting climates, violent uprisings, and a new world order emerging from the ashes of the old? While it sounds like the 21st, it is the story of thefourteenth century— a monumental era of change that reshaped every corner of the globe.

In this truly global overview, five historians from the trusted World History Encyclopedia bring to life the diverse cultures and cataclysmic events of the 14th century. From the ravages of the Black Death in European history to the glittering heights of the golden Mali Empire in Africa, this medieval history book offers an unprecedented look at a world connected by trade, faith, and a shared human experience.

• Europe in Crisis: Discover the horrors of the Black Death, the Yersinia pestis pandemic that ravaged Europe, the religious turmoil of the Western Schism, and the grinding conflict of the Hundred Years' War during the Middle Ages.
• The Riches of Africa: Explore the wealth of Mansa Musa, the fabled trade of Timbuktu, and the sophisticated artistry of Ife and Benin.
• The Americas Before Contact: Dive into the pre-Columbian era with the massive urban centers of Cahokia and Moundville, the rise of the Aztec Empire in Tenochtitlán, and the legendary "Gilded One" of the Muisca.
• Oceania & Australia: Trace the Māori settlement of New Zealand (Aotearoa) and the enduring spiritual traditions of the Indigenous Australians' Dreamtime.
• Asian Empires: Follow the crumbling of the four Mongol Khanates, the rise of the Ming Dynasty in China, the brutal conquests of Timur, the cultural flourishing of the Ashikaga Shogunate in Japan, and the power struggles in India.

The Forsaken 14th Century aims to redress the frequent neglect of certain lesser-known regions and give a truly global view, a vision of history that illustrates the interconnectedness of events, not just in the places where the historical record is rich but in every region of the world. Through a blend of archaeological records, oral traditions, and written accounts, this global history book reveals that despite differences in language and lifestyle, the people of the fourteenth century shared our modern fears of misrule, illness, disaster, and social upheaval.

Featuring a global timeline and maps by World History Encyclopedia’s in-house cartographer Simeon Netchev, and extensive bibliographies for every region, this is an essential comparative medieval history book for students, researchers, and history enthusiasts alike.