The Fourteenth Century proved to be disastrous in innumerable spiritual, intellectual, and political/social ways. This is is discussed in detail by Dr. John Rao. The Papacy moved to Avignon and was concerned primarily for French issues. The Aristotelian-Nominalist-Mystic quarrels continued and worsened. Heresies expanded their influence, and apocalyptic thought prospered. The Holy Roman Empire weakened badly, France and England fought a seemingly never-ending conflict, the Plague hit repeatedly, and the Ottoman Turks began their relentless advance. Taken from: Christianity in the Late Middle Ages-Early Renaissance - 1996 VonHildebrand Institute