Approaching the history of later medieval Europe from several different angles: political, economic, religious, artistic and intellectual, this text quotes contemporary sources in translation. Above all it is guided by a central thread, which is the growth of power in the state and the reflection of this in the development of political ideas. The book opens with a description of monarchies and city states in the 13th century, and draws to a close with a contrasting account of political philosophies current at the time of Machiavelli, and how they related to the conditions of the early 16th century. From the divine right of kings to the unification of Spain, the account takes in a whole period and an entire continent. This extensively revised and expanded third edition includes even greater use of contemporary voices, full reading lists, and new chapters on East Central Europe and Portuguese exploration which take the narrative beyond the confines of western Europe.